Cincinnati linebacker Jonathan Thompson has earned a spot on the 2026 Butkus Award watch list, with the committee making the announcement Thursday.
Thompson, a fifth-year inside linebacker, has been with the Bearcats since 2022 and has built a sizable body of work in Clifton. Across 36 career games, he has totaled 154 tackles and 17.5 tackles for loss.
His strongest stretch came in 2025, when the Columbus, Ohio native appeared in all 13 games and started nine of them. He finished second on the team with 74 tackles and led Cincinnati with 8.5 tackles for loss. Thompson also added two fumble recoveries and forced one turnover.
He opened the season with one of his best performances, piling up a career-high nine tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble against Nebraska. He later had eight tackles against both UCF and Navy, and he recovered a fumble against the Midshipmen.
The Butkus Award is one of college football’s most respected individual honors, given to linebackers who reflect the standard set by Dick Butkus more than six decades ago at the University of Illinois and during his Hall of Fame NFL career. The watch list includes 51 players, a nod to Butkus’ iconic No. 51 jersey, and the award recognizes toughness, instincts, leadership, competitiveness and football character.
Semifinalists for the 2026 award will be announced Oct. 28, followed by finalists on Nov. 20.
The winner will be revealed during the week of Dec. 7.
Selection is based on season-long performance, and players do not need to appear on the preseason watch list to win the award. The recipient will be honored during the Butkus Award celebration in early 2027 and featured in the annual Big Ten Network Butkus Award special.
In Other News...
Bearcats Camp Is Starting To Reveal Who Could Shape The Opener
As Cincinnatis camp turns toward the Sept. 5 opener at Nippert Stadium, the Bearcats are starting to get a clearer read on the players who could help define the early part of the season. Safety MJ Cannon singled out Worthys potential to create turnovers and also credited defensive coordinator Nate Woody for the way he has influenced the secondary, a sign that the defense may already be developing some of the traits it will need against Boston College.
On the other side of the ball, quarterback Liam OBrien showed off his athleticism in practice, while JC French IV put together a solid showing even with a few inconsistencies. Those kinds of camp snapshots do not settle a depth chart, but they do hint at how the Bearcats are evaluating the position room with kickoff set for 3:30 p.m. ET on FOX, and there is still more to learn before the first real test arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Bearcats Defense Sent A Message As One Offensive Question Lingers
The first scrimmage of Cincinnatis 2026 fall camp gave the Bearcats something to lean on defensively. The unit came out with more aggression and better pop than usual for an early August session, and the overall energy carried through a long practice. Head coach Scott Satterfield said the team got a good look at where it stands, with the defense making its presence felt while the offense worked through an uneven day.
One of the clearest signs came from the secondary, where Kenny Worthy continued to reinforce his standing at cornerback. Quarterback JC French IV had his moments in the scrimmage, but the operation was not as clean as it had been in the previous two practices, leaving Cincinnati with one lingering question as camp develops. The defense has already sent a message, and now the offense has to answer it. [Read more 🡒]
Bearcats Scrimmage Put One Preseason Concern Front And Center
The Bearcats used their Aug. 15 dress rehearsal at Nippert Stadium to get a first real look at where things stand three weeks before the opener, and the offense showed enough promise to keep attention on the bigger picture. Four quarterbacks took part in the scrimmage, and each helped lead scoring drives, a sign that Cincinnati at least has options as the staff keeps sorting out the depth chart and evaluating how the pieces fit.
For Scott Satterfield, the more immediate concern came at wide receiver, where he said the group still needs to become more consistent. On the other side of the ball, safety MJ Cannon said new defensive coordinator Nate Woody has been putting a clear emphasis on turnovers, which gives the Bearcats a sense of direction as camp enters its final stretch and the competition for roles sharpens. [Read more 🡒]