6 of nation’s top recruits named High School Butkus Award finalists

The Butkus foundation has announced the list of six finalists for the 2021 High School Butkus Award. The award is annually given to high school football’s top linebacker. The list of finalists features a who’s who of names recruiting and college football fans are familiar with.

The highest-ranked player on the list is five-star Harold Perkins of Cypress (Texas) Cy Park. Perkins is ranked as a five-star in the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He ranks as the No. 7 player in the country, the nation’s top linebacker and the second-ranked player in Texas.

Perkins lists Alabama, Texas, Texas A&M, LSU and Michigan State as his top teams. But the latest intel from On3’s Chad Simmons says Texas A&M is clearly the team to beat.

Ohio State commitment C.J. Hicks of Dayton (Ohio) Archbishop Alter is another Butkus finalist. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound Hicks is also a five-star and the No. 10 player in the country in the On3 Consensus.

Hicks earned the nickname “Captain Buckeye” after he committed to Ohio State in May 2020. He took on a significant role in helping the Buckeyes land other coveted recruits. 

Jaylen Sneed, another On3 Consensus five-star, also made the Butkus finalist list. Sneed, who is the No. 28 player in the country out of Hilton Head, S.C., is a longtime Notre Dame commitment. He had a standout senior season, according to On3 Director of Scouting and Rankings Charles Power.

“We’ve seen Sneed transfer his athleticism to the field and he’s making plays off the ball in addition to offense,” Power said.

More top commits make Butkus list

Another Butkus finalist is On3 Consensus four-star linebacker Shawn Murphy, an Alabama commitment. Murphy, who is from Manassas (Va.) Unity Reed, ranks as the No. 43 player overall in On3 Consensus. Smith says he can’t wait to play in the Alabama defense.

“Alabama’s defense is very electric and intense, and I love the way they play,” Murphy said.

Georgia linebacker commit Jalon Walker of Salisbury, N.C., is another Butkus finalist. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Walker ranks as the No. 61 player in the country in the On3 Consensus.

Walker has done his part in helping Georgia reel in more high-level recruits and build the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class, according to the On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Rank.

The other finalist is four-star Notre Dame commit Joshua Burnham of Traverse City (Mich.) Central. He ranks No. 108 in the On3 Consensus.

Take a look back at the 16 semifinalists that were nominated in October.