Overview: Three-year starter at cornerback...Clemson ranked in the top 15 in the nation in pass defense all three years he was a starter...started each of the last 40 Clemson games, he and Chris Chancellor started 40 games together at cornerback...Butler's streak is second longest in Clemson history for a cornerback behind Chancellor's streak of 42...Tigers finished in top 25 in two of those three years and won 26 games over that time...tied for second in Clemson history in career interception return yards with 243, he is tied with former teammate Michael Hamlin who is now with the Dallas Cowboys...just 33 interception return yards short of Rex Varn's career record... had 63-yard interception return against Nebraska in 2009 Gator Bowl...tied for third among active ACC players in career interceptions with 11 at the end of his career... played in each of the last three Clemson bowl games,...had five tackles against Auburn in 2007 Chick-fil-A Bowl...had three tackles against Nebraska last year and finished with three stops in the win over Kentucky in 2009 Music City Bowl...so he played in four bowl games and started three....on preseason Thorpe Award list....broke Charlie Justice's Asheville High School career rushing record with over 5000 yards.... Tied for team lead in interceptions with four in 2007...had interception against Georgia Tech when Clemson secondary held Calvin Johnson without an reception for the only time in his career in 2006...first-team freshman All-ACC according to the Sporting News. 2009: Honorable mention All-ACC selection at cornerback...has the size to be successful at the next level... had just one interception this year, he has not had that many opportunities as quarterbacks have thrown away from him much of the year...had 36 tackles, including 27 first hits...has a sack and 10 passes broken up for 11 total passes defensed...had 32 career passes defensed on 21 PBUs and 11 interceptions for his career...had his only interception against Coastal Carolina...had at least one PBU in eight straight games at one point in 2009 season...had big role in Clemson's win over Florida State, he had career high 10 tackles in that game...had sack against Maryland, his only sack of the year....a big reason Clemson finished sixth in the nation in pass defense, 10th in forcing turnovers, 20th in total defense and 25th in scoring defense. 2008: Starting cornerback in every game...his 142 return yards were third-most in Clemson history; he enhanced those numbers with a 63-yard interception return against Nebraska in the Gator Bowl; he also had three tackles, one tackle for loss, and one pass breakup...sixth on the defense in tackles (52); he was a big reason Clemson was in the top 10 in the nation in scoring defense and passing defense...11th in the ACC and 53rd in the nation in interceptions per game...third in tackles among ACC starting defensive backs...had a season-high eight tackles and an interception against N.C. State...had four tackles and a 48-yard interception return against S.C. State...had six tackles and two pass breakups at #21 Wake Forest...had perhaps his best all-around game at Virginia when he had seven tackles, all first hits, a tackle for loss, and a 31-yard interception return; that was a key play in the game, as the interception set up a field goal that put the game out of reach...had three tackles, his first career sack, and a caused fumble in 50 snaps against South Carolina...had the first two punt returns of his career in 2008, one for 15 yards against The Citadel and a 12-yard return against Duke. 2007: Seventh on the team in tackles (61)...started all 13 games and played 593 snaps...had three interceptions, third-most on the team, including one each against Furman, Maryland, and #21 Auburn...had at least four tackles in 10 games...had a recovered fumble against Central Michigan...had nine special teams tackles...had nine tackles, all first hits, against Furman...had eight tackles at Georgia Tech and seven against Louisiana-Monroe. 2006: First-year freshman cornerback who tied for the team lead in interceptions (3)...had two interceptions for 35 yards against Louisiana Tech, the first Tiger freshman to record two interceptions in a game since 2002 and fifth Tiger freshman to tally two interceptions in a game...first-team freshman All-ACC by Sporting News...had a recovered fumble, giving him a team-tying-best four takeaways...had 34 tackles...did not start a game, but played 12 games on defense...played at least double-figures in snaps in each of the last seven games...averaged 22 snaps in the last seven games...had seven tackles in 30 snaps (both season-highs) against Temple...had five first hits, two interceptions, and one pass breakup against Louisiana Tech...had four tackles and an interception against #13 Georgia Tech...played 248 snaps, more than any other first-year freshman on defense, and second among all first-year freshmen. Before Clemson: First-team all-state by AP at Asheville High School...#14 cornerback in the nation by Rivals.com...#4 prospect in North Carolina by Rivals.com...member of the Rivals.com 250...#19 cornerback in the nation by CollegeFootballNews.com...member of the East Hot 100 by Scout.com...#24 cornerback in the nation by Scout.com...#17 defensive back in the nation by SuperPrep...three-time all-conference pick...Shrine Bowl selection...had 62 tackles, seven interceptions, eight pass breakups, and two caused fumbles as a senior...rushed for 1,435 yards and 16 touchdowns as a quarterback...threw for 750 yards and five touchdowns...led his team to the AAA state title as a senior...MVP of the state title game with five tackles, a caused fumble, interception, and 70-yard, game-winning touchdown pass...all-time leading rusher at Asheville High with 5,030 career yards, breaking the 63-year-old record of Choo-Choo Justice (4,005)...had 60 rushing touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his career...high school team had a 52-6 career record...also ran track...named to Who's Who Among American High School students...recipient of the National Student Leadership Conference Award...coached by Danny Wilkins...chose Clemson over Maryland, North Carolina, N.C. State, South Carolina, and Virginia Tech...born May 26, 1987...majoring in sociology. |
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