South Carolina football: Ernest Jones named Butkus Award semifinalist
By Jacob Elsey
One South Carolina football defender is garnering national recognition.
Inside linebacker Ernest Jones has been named to the Butkus Award semifinalist list, making him one of just 16 players nationally to earn the prestigious recognition. The award, in its 36th year of existence, is given annually to the nation’s top linebacker.
Recent recipients of the award include Clemson’s Isaiah Simmons, Georgia’s Roquan Smith, Alabama’s Reuben Foster, Notre Dame’s Manti Te’o, Boston College’s Luke Kuechly, and Texas A&M’s Von Miller. No Gamecock has ever taken home the trophy.
Jones, a junior from Georgia, is having a career season, ranking second in the Southeastern Conference in takedowns. Through nine games, Jones has recorded 86 tackles, averaging nearly 10 a game. He’s also racked up a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
Despite playing in a COVID shortened season, the backer is just 11 tackles shy of his 2019 output, when he led the team with 97 tackles. He’s recorded two of the nation’s top tackling performances in 2020, taking down ball carriers 19 times in a game versus LSU, and adding another 18 takedowns in a matchup with Ole Miss.
Jones needs just one tackle more to eclipse 200 for his career. With all that’s transpired on the South Carolina defense this season, Jones has been a steady presence, as the team captain has played in all 10 games this year.
Finalists for the Butkus Award will be announced on December 7th, with the list of semifinalists being cut a week from today. The winner will be announced a couple of weeks later, on December 22nd.