NU Football Recruit, Westside LB Jones, Wins Butkus Award

Image courtesy of University of Nebraska

Nebraska football recruit Christian Jones has received the 2024 Butkus Award, honoring the nation’s top prep linebacker.

The award was presented yesterday to Jones, a senior at Omaha Westside, during a surprise appearance by Matt Butkus, son of linebacker Dick Butkus, who would have celebrated his 82nd birthday on Monday.

This past season, Jones had 96 tackles, including 16 tackles for loss, for Class A state runner-up Westside. He also had three sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown in the state championship game.

Jones joins two fellow Husker recruits in receiving prestigious postseason honors. Connor Booth and Kade Pietrzak have been named the Gatorade State Players of the Year for Nebraska and North Dakota, respectively.