{
  "id": 855796,
  "title": "Texas A&M senior LB named to the Butkus Award Watch List",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/texas-a-m-senior-lb-named-to-the-butkus-award-watch-list",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-14T09:15:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/texas-m-senior-lb-named-091524006.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Texas A&M's 2026 linebacker lineup now includes Tulsa transfer Ray Coney, who has been recognized with the Butkus Award Watch List nomination. Coney, who recorded more than 120 tackles in his debut season, joins senior linebacker Daymion Sanford and rising sophomore Noah Mikhail. Defensively, Coney stands out with his football IQ, physicality, and athleticism, particularly as a run defender. The 6'2\", 240-pound Coney also excels in pressuring the quarterback, providing valuable opportunities for the Aggies' defense. While freshman Sanford is expected to play in the team's season opener against Missouri State, Coney's impressive performance, including a Pro Football Focus rating of 87.6 overall and 86.9 as a run defender, makes him a strong contender for the prestigious Butkus Award.",
  "summary": "Texas A&M transfer LB Ray Coney was named to the Butkus Award Watch List ahead of his first season with the Aggies.",
  "key_points": [
    "Ray Coney, Tulsa transfer, named to Butkus Award Watch List",
    "Coney recorded over 120 tackles in debut season",
    "6'2\", 240-pound Coney excels in run defense"
  ],
  "editors_take": "This recognition for Tulsa transfer Ray Coney cements his status as a top contender for the Butkus Award and bolsters Texas A&M's linebacker lineup for the upcoming season.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}