Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Washington, D.C., Athlete Prefers Defense BY JASON SAPP of visits that included Michigan, Penn State and Wisconsin, but the March 28 trip was much more than that for Devin Butler. It became the final stop. N otre Dame was supposed to be the last of four stops on a swing COMMITMENT PROFILE DEVIN BUTLER three-star cornerback arrived in South Bend with an open mind. He was still in the information-gather- ing stage of his recruitment. Notre Dame changed everything, though, and he was ready to make his next move before even leaving campus. "One of the things that really The Washington (D.C.) Gonzaga stood out to me about the program was the passion that the coaches, players and community had about everything Notre Dame," the 6-1, 180-pound player reported after an- nouncing his choice on April 4. "It's a wholesome program and one that I'm proud to say I'm a part of it." Butler had even scheduled a deci- tackles, six interceptions and 12 pass breakups in his junior campaign, is ranked as the No. 43 athlete in the nation and No. 3 prospect in Washington, D.C., by 247Sports. He will always remember the moment when he got to share the news with Irish head coach Brian Kelly on March 29. "Coach Kelly talked Cooks is a wonderful guy. He lived it, played it and experienced it. He's just the right person for me to learn from and listen to if I want to have the chance to play at a high level as well." Butler, who recorded 43 about the dire need at the cornerback position right now and how great of a fit I am," he said. "He said that I would be a positive influence both as a team player and a person, and that meant a lot to me. "He asked me if I was ready to be sion announcement date of May 12 prior to his visit, but he felt the urge to make his choice known much sooner. "They took me in as part of the A cornerback, Butler recorded 43 tackles, six interceptions and 12 pass breakups in his junior campaign at Gonzaga High in Washington, D.C. PHOTO COURTESY 247SPORTS team," he continued. "The players were all very respectful, and I could really tell it's like a brotherhood." An integral part of the visit was watching two full sessions of prac- tice during the multi-day trip. "Notre Dame has a high-energy defense, and that's the type of player that I am," Butler noted. "They were out there having fun and they have a swag about them. "[Cornerbacks] Coach [Kerry] a part of the team, and I told him, 'Yes sir.' My family prayed about it, and we knew Notre Dame hits things on all levels. It was the right time to hop on board. "It showed me how the coaches felt about me when the whole staff was waiting outside of his office to welcome me to the family." While the D.C. native has impres- likes to come up and hit people, and he loves being out on an island to match up with the best receiver on the field. He's a very competitive guy. "He plays the game hard, and he's a leader that way." CBS Sports national analyst Tom Lemming feels that Butler fills the mold of what the Irish wanted at the cornerback position. "I like him a lot," Lemming said. sive ball skills, his coach, Aaron Brady, said it's his passion for being on defense that makes him such a strong option for college programs. "He can pretty much do anything on offense or defense," Brady said. "Most guys his size want to play offense, but he loves defense. He … Has good athletic ability and could contribute at a number of positions, but his open-field tackling makes him an early candidate for special teams … He's also able to make plays with the ball in his hands and adds an element on turnovers. wrap up more when facing bigger and faster ball carriers will be addressed, but he'll win most one- on-one battles in those scenarios … Possesses good technique in back pedaling and coming out of his break, but the ability to flip his hips will also be focused on while making the transition. Areas To Improve Leads with his shoulder at times when relying on just making the big pop. Developing the ability to — Jason Sapp 38 MAY 2012 Strengths Makes quick reads, has the confidence to play in press coverage and is a physical player in run support FILM ANALYSIS "He has length, long arms, quick hands and quick feet. As a cover corner, he's pretty good, and he can play safety for a team, too. He plays against decent teams, and I feel he's one of the two best players in D.C." Other Gonzaga High players that have suited up for the Irish are wide receiver Malcolm Johnson (1995-98) and kicker David Ruffer (2008-11). Butler was excited to return to South Bend for the Blue-Gold Game on April 21 and is looking forward to when the trip to campus truly is the final stop. "I'm really grateful that I had this opportunity," he said. "Being con- sidered among the elite in the nation is a great feeling, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility. "I don't want to say that I'm glad it's over, but it's a journey that I'm excited about taking the next step and working towards becoming a better player and a better man." ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED