Deon Butler

[edit] Biography

Deon Butler’s mother, Valerie, had a favorite saying for he and his brother, Lee, growing up: “Reach for the moon, and even if you miss, you’ll be a star.” Butler, a former walk-on defensive back, made those words prophetic in 2005 as he exploded onto the college football landscape as one of the most sure-handed and productive receivers in the Big Ten in his redshirt freshman campaign. Humble with an easy-going demeanor, the 5-10, 166-pound Butler eschewed advice from Lee to take a scholarship offer at a smaller school when the big schools stayed away following an all-state and All-Met senior campaign at Hylton HS outside Washington, D.C. Lee had spent two fruitless years training before finally earning a walk-on spot on the Miami Hurricanes’ basketball team (his eligibility expired in 2006 after two seasons on the team) and didn’t want to see his younger brother go through the same experience. Butler accepted an invitation to walk-on as a defensive back at Penn State anyway, and, after spending a year on the foreign team, his athleticism and :4.4 speed prompted a scholarship and a switch to wide receiver in the spring of 2005. He responded with streaking over-the-shoulder catches and diving grabs, hauling in 11 catches of more than 20 yards (seven for touchdowns) and five of more than 40. He led Penn State with 37 receptions for 691 yards and nine touchdowns, tied for the fourth-highest season total in school history. Butler broke four school freshman records, including season receptions (37), receiving yards in a game (125 vs. Wisconsin) and season (691) and TD catches (9). He was named a third-team Freshman All-American by The Sporting News and earned a spot on TSN’s Freshman All-Big Ten team. Butler also was an honorable-mention All-Big Ten choice. A “field-stretcher” noted for his attention to route running, Butler is one of nine Nittany Lion returnees who played prep football in metropolitan Washington, D.C. A post-season honors candidate, he has rapidly developed into a standout among a stable full of young and swift Penn State receivers.

2005 Sophomore Season It was a breakout season for Butler, who led Penn State with 37 receptions for 691 yards and nine touchdowns, tied for fourth-highest overall on the school season list. He broke four school freshman records, including season receptions (37), receiving yards in a game (125 vs. Wisconsin) and season (691) and TD catches (nine). His 18.7 yards per catch average was tops among players with 10 or more receptions and he posted 11 catches of 20 yards or longer (seven for TDs). For his efforts, he was named a third-team Freshman All-American by The Sporting News and earned a spot on TSN’s Freshman All-Big Ten team. Butler also was an honorable-mention All-Big Ten choice. His nine touchdown catches were the third-highest in the Big Ten and the most for a Nittany Lion since Joe Jurevicius had 10 in 1997. He had five catches of more than 40 yards (five for TDs). Butler moved into the starting lineup in the third game and started eight contests. His first collegiate reception was a 28-yarder against Cincinnati and he ended they day with two catches for 73 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown. In his first start, against Central Michigan, he made five receptions for 108 yards and two scores to tie Kyle Brady’s school freshman mark for TD receptions in a game. It also was the first 100-yard game by a Lion receiver since 2003. He made it three straight games with a TD when he hauled in a 26-yarder in the comeback win at Northwestern. He made a season-high six catches against Minnesota (83 yards) and had four receptions for 95 yards and a pair of scores in one half of play at Illinois. Butler made five grabs for a career-best 125 yards in the 35-14 win over Wisconsin, with TD catches of 43 and 47 yards from Michael Robinson, the third of his multiple-TD games on the year. His 125 yards against the Badgers broke the school freshman receiving yardage mark. Butler contributed four receptions for 46 yards and a TD in the Big Ten-clinching win at Michigan State. He was on the field for 550 plays, including a season-high 72 in the FedEx Orange Bowl win over Florida State.

2004 Freshman Season Redshirt season.

High School Butler was a three-sport standout at Hylton HS in suburban Washington D.C. A four-year football letterman for Coach Lou Sorrentino, he also lettered four years in basketball and as a senior sprinter on the track and field team. Establishing himself as one of Virginia’s top receivers, he was an all-state pick as a senior, helping lead Hylton to the Virginia Class AAA state championship. Butler also was an all-met, all-district and all-area selection and team captain. Butler made 41 receptions for 1,029 yards and 16 touchdowns as a senior. He also had 26 kick returns for 763 yards and two touchdowns. A two-way starter, Butler recorded 73 tackles and nine interceptions as a defensive back in 2003 and grabbed 16 career interceptions. He was selected to play in the 2004 VHSL All-Star game.

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