The Dick Butkus Award is given annually to the top linebacker in college football. The award is presented by the Downtown Athletic Club of Orlando.
| Year | Winner | School |
| 2006 | Patrick Willis | Ole Miss |
| 2005 | Paul Posluszny | Penn State |
| 2004 | Derrick Johnson | Texas |
| 2003 | Teddy Lehman | Oklahoma |
| 2002 | E.J. Henderson | Maryland |
| 2001 | Rocky Calmus | Oklahoma |
| 2000 | Dan Morgan | Miami |
| 1999 | LaVar Arrington | Penn State |
| 1998 | Chris Claiborne | Southern California |
| 1997 | Andy Katzenmoyer | Ohio State |
| 1996 | Matt Russell | Colorado |
| 1995 | Kevin Hardy | Illinois |
| 1994 | Dan Howard | Illinois |
| 1993 | Trev Alberts | Nebraska |
| 1992 | Marvin Jones | Florida State |
| 1991 | Erick Anderson | Michigan |
| 1990 | Alfred Williams | Colorado |
| 1989 | Percy Snow | Michigan State |
| 1988 | Derrick Thomas | Alabama |
| 1987 | Paul McGowan | Florida State |
| 1986 | Brian Bosworth | Oklahoma |
| 1985 | Brian Bosworth | Oklahoma |
