SAN MARCOS, Texas – The National College Football Awards Association announced Monday that Texas State senior linebacker Michael Orakpo has been named to the 2014 Butkus Award Watch List. The Butkus Award is given annually to the best linebacker in the nation.

Orakpo also has been named a 2014 preseason All-Sun Belt First Team selection by Phil Steele, Lindy's, Athlon, USA Today and Sporting News preseason magazines after being named Honorable Mention All-SBC by league coaches and All-SBC Second-Team by Phil Steele in 2013.
 
He led the Bobcats and ranked seventh among SBC leaders with 4.5 sacks and was among Top 10 SBC leaders with 10 tackle for losses of 38 yards in his first season at Texas State. Orakpo also forced three fumbles to tie for second among SBC leaders. His 71 tackles last season are among the top seven returning players in 2014.
 
Orakpo had quarterback hurries versus ULM, Idaho and Troy and recorded a season-best of 11 tackles, including four solo, at Idaho. He also had eight tackles against Prairie View A&M and seven stops against both Arkansas State and UL Monroe, tallied six tackles versus Wyoming and had five tackles, two forced fumbles and a pass breakup in Texas State's season-opening game at Southern Miss. He also had a forced fumble and 1.5 sacks against Prairie View A&M before breaking up passes Georgia State and Troy.