Ethan Wesloski Named to Preseason Watchlist for Butkus Award

Watchlist season rolls on, as one Cowboy linebacker has some preseason consideration for being among the best in the country.

Ethan Wesloski was one of 51 linebackers named to the watchlist for the Butkus Award on Thursday. The award is given to the best linebacker in college football.

 

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A transfer from North Texas, Wesloski led the Mean Green with 113 tackles in 2025, also finishing with nine tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, an INT, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery that he made in the end zone.

Wesloski had spent his entire college career to this point in Denton. He played two games while redshirting in 2022 before jumping into a regular starting role as a redshirt freshman in 2023.

In total, the 6-foot-1, 234-pound redshirt senior has made 233 tackles, 21.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks in his career.

Wesloski is a native of McKinney, Texas, where he attended Boyd High School. He was considered a three-star prospect in the 2022 recruiting class.

Semifinalists for the Butkus Award will be announced on Oct. 28 and finalists on Nov. 20. The winner will be announced the week of Dec. 7.