Jones’ Luke DeBusk
Jones High School senior Luke DeBusk has had no ordinary high school athletic career.
The Longhorns football all-time leader in tackles is also no ordinary student-athlete.
“I believe in my lord and savior, and I’m a big family guy,” DeBusk said. “I’m a pretty level, even guy until I cross the lines on a football or baseball field.
DeBusk led the Longhorns to a state football title in December, tallying 110 tackles, 10 for-loss, seven sacks and three forced fumbles en route to a 14-0 record. He was named the 2A defensive player of the year, District 1 defensive MVP and Prep Redzone All-State first-team selection.
“It was an unbelievable and surreal feeling. From very early on, I’ve dreamed to be on a stage like that, and to help lead my team to a state championship is something I’ll never forget,” DeBusk said. “This town is a special place that loves to win, and the community will do anything for their students and athletes to succeed.”
It’s his competitive edge that drives DeBusk to such heights on the gridiron. He’s a punishing hitter and savvy playmaker. Football purists and lovers of 70s defense would describe his play style as “nasty” or “mean.” He’s not a nasty or mean person, but the model student who carries a 3.9 GPA in the classroom disappears when the lights turn on.
“I’m a very old-school minded guy, and that’s just how I’ve been raised,” DeBusk said. “I came from a very sporty family. Everyone in my family played sports, so me and my brother have always been around it. Sports have taught me tons of lessons from the way you carry yourself to the way you have to overcome tough situations.”
A state title and solid recruiting outlook would make some athletes complacent. DeBusk could easily mail in the final semester of his high school experience, hit a few home runs and maybe help his team to a winning record. It’s not like any ordinary player in his position has to win another title — But Luke DeBusk does.
“Once you win one, there’s always an itch to win another. There’s a fire built-in to get another and some unfinished business,” DeBusk said. “I’ve always had conversations with the senior class all the way through high school on what we want to do and what legacy we want to leave behind. My parents sat me down the summer going into my freshman year and asked me that exact question. My response was, ‘I want to play for a state championship, and I want to rewrite the record book in Jones.”
When he graduates, DeBusk wants to be remembered as a leader, a good teammate and a tough person, “as well as the teammate that pushed you to be the best you could be, correct you when you were wrong and praised you when you did good.”
DeBusk plans to play football at the next level and, after graduating, enter coaching, firefighting or oil.
