Kentucky football seniors Jamon Dumas-Johnson and D’Eryk Jackson have been named to the 40th annual Butkus Award Watch List, which identifies the nation’s top linebacker, as announced on Tuesday. Kentucky is among only seven schools with multiple players on the prestigious list, which features 51 athletes, a nod to Dick Butkus’ iconic “51” jersey number.
The Butkus Award, established in 1985, honors linebackers at the high school, college, and professional levels, and is guided by a 51-person selection committee composed of coaches, scouts, and journalists. The selection process emphasizes qualities that defined Butkus’ legendary career, including toughness, on-field leadership, competitiveness, football character, and traditional linebacking skills. The award particularly focuses on recognizing linebackers who consistently play off the ball on their feet in a two-point stance.
Jamon Dumas-Johnson
Jamon Dumas-Johnson, a 6-foot-1, 245-pound inside linebacker from Hyattsville, Maryland, transferred to Kentucky in 2024 after spending three seasons with the Georgia Bulldogs. During his time at Georgia, Dumas-Johnson played in 38 games and was instrumental in the Bulldogs’ back-to-back national championship wins in 2021 and 2022.
Before transferring, Dumas-Johnson had started 24 consecutive games for Georgia, including all nine games in 2023, until he suffered a broken left forearm in a victory over Missouri. Following surgery in November 2023, he missed the remainder of the season but returned to action with Kentucky during spring practice in March 2024.
Despite his injury-shortened season, Dumas-Johnson compiled 34 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, two pass breakups, and a quarterback hurry in 2023. His strong performance earned him spots on several national watch lists, including the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, the Butkus Award, and the Lombardi Award. He was also named to the Associated Press Preseason All-America First Team and The Sporting News Preseason All-America First Team.
D’Eryk Jackson
D’Eryk Jackson, a 6-foot-1, 246-pound senior from Dublin, Georgia, has been a defensive leader for Kentucky, leading the team in tackles for the past two seasons. In 2023, he recorded 81 tackles, including 6.5 tackles for loss, three pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, two interceptions, a sack, and a forced fumble.
Jackson’s playmaking ability was on full display in Kentucky’s conference-opening win at Vanderbilt, where he not only intercepted a pass but also lateraled the ball to teammate Andru Phillips, who returned it 50 yards to set up a touchdown. Jackson’s second interception of the season resulted in a 26-yard return for a touchdown in Kentucky’s victory over Mississippi State.
Butkus Award Timeline
The Butkus Award semi-finalists will be announced on November 4, with the finalists named on November 25. The winner will be revealed by December 10. It is important to note that being on the watch list is not a prerequisite for winning the award. The 2024 Butkus Award winners at the high school, college, and professional levels will be honored at an event planned for early 2025 at Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois as part of a Big Ten Network television special.
