A South Carolina football defender is gaining national recognition.
Internal linebacker Ernest Jones was named to the Butkus Prize semi-finalist list, making him one of only 16 players nationwide to win prestigious recognition. The award, in its 36th year of existence, is awarded annually to the best linebacker in the country.
Recent recipients of the award include Isaiah Simmons of Clemson, Roquan Smith of Georgia, Reuben Foster of Alabama, Manti Te’o of Notre Dame, Luke Kuechly of Boston College and Von Miller of Texas A&M. No Gamecock has ever taken the trophy home.
Jones, a junior from Georgia, is doing a season in his career, taking second place at the Southeast Conference in falls. In nine games, Jones recorded 86 tackles, averaging almost 10 per game. He also accumulated a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Despite playing in a shortened COVID season, the defender is only 11 tackles from his 2019 exit when he led the team with 97 tackles. He recorded two of the country’s best tackling performances in 2020, knocking ball holders 19 times in a game against LSU and adding another 18 takedowns in a fight against Ole Miss.
Jones needs just one more tackle for eclipse 200 in his career. With everything that has happened in South Carolina’s defense this season, Jones has been a constant presence, as the team captain has played in all 10 games this year.
The finalists for the Butkus Prize will be announced on December 7, with the list of semifinalists being reduced by one week from today. The winner will be announced a few weeks later, on December 22nd.