Biography
CAREER: Three-time All-NSIC honoree...played in 46 games leading USF to a 41-8 record and four straight postseason appearances - three in the NCAA DII playoffs…finishing with a streak of 42 straight starts, dating back to Oct. 18, 2014…finished career with 261 stops, including 155 solos and 106 assisted tackles…registered seven tackles for loss…had 25 passes defended…registered four forced fumbles, fumble recovery and two interceptions for 53 yards in returns…had a sack… recorded a career-high of 15 tackles, including five solos, TFL and a fumble recovery in his final game at USF, a 24-20 loss to No. 5 Midwestern State in the NCAA DII Playoffs in 2018…also had 13 tackles vs. Southwest Minnesota St. on (10/17/15) and vs. MSU Moorhead (9/10/16)… recorded a career-high of 10 solo tackles vs. Augustana (10/24/15)…forced two fumbles vs. Southwest Minnesota St. on Oct. 17, 2015… returned a kickoff 65 yards in 2014... three times earned Academic All-NSIC honors…with 261 tackles, ranked first in USF’s DII era and tied for sixth overall (Curtis Eben, 2000-04)…155 solo tackles is fifth overall and first in the DII era…ranks seventh overall and second in the DII era at USF with 106 assisted tackles…four forced fumbles is the most in the DII era and tied for fourth overall at USF…with 25 passes defended ranked 10th overall and tied for third in the DII era (Cliff Redmond, 2015-16).
2017 (REDSHIRT SENIOR): Named Academic All-NSIC…in earning All-NSIC second team honors, accumulated 66 tackles, including 31 solo stops…registered 2.5 tackles for loss…had a forced fumble and seven pass breakups for USF, which finished ranked by the AFCA at No. 20 during a 9-3 season… recorded a career-high of 15 tackles, including five solos, TFL and a fumble recovery in his final game at USF, a 24-20 loss to No. 5 Midwestern State in the NCAA DII Playoffs in 2018…had five or more tackles in eight games…recorded seven stops against No. 8 Minnesota Duluth on Aug. 31 and vs. U-Mary, Sept. 16 as well as Winona State…had a season-high five solo stops at Upper Iowa on Nov. 4…had a season-high three pass breakups against Winona State…had pass breakups four times.
2016 (REDSHIRT JUNIOR): Earned first-team All-NSIC honors, leading USF to NSIC title for first time in DII era...named team captain…earned the team "Most Inspirational Player" award... key player for team that ranked second in the NSIC and 19th nationally in scoring defense (18.6 ppg), second in the league and 39th nationally in rushing defense (111.8 ypg), 12th nationally and second in the NSIC in interceptions and second in total defense (348.1 ypg), 16th nationally and fourth in the NSIC in team sacks (3.23 per game), while ranking 25th in DII in turnovers gained (27).. registered 81 tackles, including 50 solo stops…had a tackle for loss vs. Winona State (10/15/16)…nine times had at least five tackles in a game…tied a career-high with 13 tackles, including seven solo stops, against MSU Moorhead (9/10/16)…recorded two interceptions, including one for one yard vs MSU Moorhead (9/10/16) and one for a career long 52 yards vs. Winona State (10/15/16)…recorded nine tackles against Wayne State (11/12/16) and had eight tackles, including season-best eight solo stops, in playoff lost (27-24) to Harding (11/26/16)…had at least one solo stop in all three games and had four or more solo stops in seven games.
2015 (REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE): Named second team All-NSIC...appeared in 12 games… recorded 104 tackles, 67 solo and 37 assists… 104 tackles ranked 9th in NSIC… made 3.5 tackles for loss…forced three fumbles… ranked 1st in NSIC in forced fumbles… recorded a career high of 13 total tackles vs. Southwest Minnesota St. on Oct. 17… recorded a career high of 10 solo tackles vs. Augustana on Oct. 24… forced two fumbles vs. Southwest Minnesota St. on Oct. 17… recorded one sack vs. Southwest Minnesota St. on Oct. 17… named to the Academic All-NSIC Team
2014 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): appeared in nine games…recorded 10 tackles, seven solo and three assists…had one 65-yard kickoff vs. Bemidji State (9/13/14)… forced a fumble
2013: Redshirted
HIGH SCHOOL: Prepped at Gateway HS in Aurora (Colo.)…named EMAC Player of the Month while playing football for the Olympians…all-conference athlete in both football and wrestling…recorded 105 tackles.
PERSONAL: Son of Oscar and Deborah Butler…born on August 5, 1995…has three brothers, Ryan, Sean and his brother Noah, who is a quarterback for USF…computer science major...graduated in May 2017 and will be in graduate school.
