I understand that not every outstanding player can be included on some of these semifinalist lists starting to pop up for national awards. There are only so many spots. I get that.

But how Kentucky's Danny Trevathan didn't make the list of 12 semifinalists for the Butkus Award is beyond me.

Three linebackers from the SEC did make the cut and are very deserving -- Alabama's Dont'a Hightower, Alabama's Courtney Upshaw and Georgia's Jarvis Jones.

Still, there hasn't been a more consistent linebacker in the SEC to this point than Trevathan, and it's also hard to imagine a more valuable player to his defense than Trevathan. He's second only to his teammate, Winston Guy, in total tackles and is averaging 11 per game after leading the league with 144 tackles last season. Trevathan is probably underrated because of the Wildcats' struggles this season as a team, but the coaches who've played against him will tell you that he's the real deal.

Here's the entire list of the 12 Butkus semifinalists:

• Zach Brown, North Carolina

• Vontaze Burfict, Arizona State

• Audie Cole, North Carolina State

• Lavonte David, Nebraska

• Dont’a Hightower, Alabama

• Luke Kuechly, Boston College

• Travis Lewis, Oklahoma

• Keenan Robinson, Texas

• Sean Spence, Miami (Fla.)

• Manti Te’o, Notre Dame

• Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

• Jarvis Jones, Georgia