Georgia football linebacker Jalon Walker has won the 2024 Butkus Award for nation’s best linebacker over Clemson’s Barrett Carter, Ole Miss’ Chris Paul Jr., UCLA’s Carson Scwesinger and Oklahoma’s Danny Stutsman.
Walker was a standout performer for the Bulldogs’ defense this season. Across 13 games, he recorded 57 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks, all career highs. He demonstrated his versatility by excelling as both a linebacker in coverage and a pass rusher. A true Swiss Army knife player, Walker delivered clutch performances throughout the year, putting together a memorable and impressive season for the Dawgs.
He is Georgia’s third Butkus Award winner in the Kirby Smart era when Roquan Smith won in 2017, Nakobe Dean in 2022, and now Walker in 2024.
Georgia has made a name for themselves at getting and developing quality at the linebacker position. Walker is a prime example of that case for the Bulldogs. With nine draftees at the linebacker position Walker is primed to be Kirby Smart’s 10th linebacker drafted since his arrival in 2016.
Despite winning the award for the nation’s best linebacker, Walker did not make the All-SEC first-team as a linebacker.