ATHENS, Ga. – Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker was awarded the Butkus Award on Wednesday.
The 40th annual collegiate Butkus Award® honoring the nation’s best collegiate linebacker was presented formally during a surprise appearance by Matt Butkus, son of linebacker legend Dick Butkus.
The 6-foot-2, 245-pound junior linebacker from Salisbury, N.C., has lined up inside and outside and produced 57 tackles, including 10.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks with two fumble recoveries and a pass breakup. Walker is the third Georgia Bulldog to win the award, joining Nakobe Dean (2021) and Roquan Smith (2017) in the last eight years.
“Jalon Walker’s versatility distinguished his contribution to Georgia’s defense. He lined up all over the field and was impactful, making plays at critical times on big stages," The Butkus Award Selection Committee said. "His all-around performance and hybrid skill set rose to the top of a very strong, deserving group of linebackers that was as equally distributed in vote totals as any race the past two decades.”
Walker received 33% of first-place votes and led the field with 26% of the overall vote, followed by Danny Stutsman of Oklahoma (19%), Barrett Carter of Clemson (17%), Carson Schwesinger of UCLA (16%) and Chris Paul Jr. of Mississippi (14%). Additionally, Jay Higgins of Iowa, Nick Martin of Oklahoma State, Jackson Woodard of UNLV and Shaun Dolac of Buffalo each received write-in votes.
The Butkus Award selection committee focuses on qualities that defined Dick Butkus’ career: toughness, on-field leadership, competitiveness, football character and linebacking skills.
