Vernon Butler – Louisiana Tech

Position: Defensive Line

Height: 6’4’’

Weight: 325

Year: Senior

Hometown: Summitt, Miss.

Experience: Sr. – 2 year starter

Measurables:

40 yard: 5.33

Broad jump: 104 inch.

Vertical: 29.5 inch.

3-cone: 7.82 sec.

20yd. Shuttle: 4.76 sec.

Bench Press: 26 reps

Career Notes:

Despite only starting his final two seasons at Louisiana Tech, Butler still saw good production and playing time all four years as a nose tackle in the Bulldogs defensive front.

As a rotational player in 2013, he recorded 43 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and one sack. In his first year as a starter in 2014, Butler garnered some national attention with a strong 55-tackle performance, including 13 tackles for loss.

As a senior he continued his strong play, recording 50 tackles, 10 TFL, and three sacks, earning First-team All-Conference USA honors. In 2015, Butler became a cornerstone piece in the Conference USA’s top run defense—a group that ranked 13^th nationally.

With a strong basketball and track background in high school as well, Butler is a well-rounded athlete with good upside as a defensive line prospect. Many consider him an early-round prospect and a top-ten player at his position. He's most likely a second-round pick in the draft, but he could sneak into the end of the first round.

Injury Report:

*Didn't miss a start due to injury.

Career Stats:

Analysis:

Against the Run: (4.0/5.0)

Butler explodes out of his stance and shows good off-the-line quickness, gaining good leverage with his initial stance and extending his arms to push back opposing linemen back on their heels. Butler shows good functional strength to hold the point of attack and anchor at the line of scrimmage. As a nose or one-technique tackle he can plug the A-gaps and get into the backfield and be disruptive against the run. Butler also plays with tremendous hustle, which enables him to make second-effort plays and assist in stops even if he’s not the first defender to the ball carrier.

However, Butler is more of a penetrate-and-disrupt type defensive tackle, showing very little evidence on film to two-gap or hold his ground against double teams. At times, he will over-pursue upfield, opening up rushing lanes, or he’ll play too high at the line of scrimmage and allow himself to get turned once the offensive lineman gets his hands on Butler’s chest. These traits hurt Butler’s grade against the run and could be concerning for a guy that projects as a nose tackle in the NFL.

On the other hand, Butler’s potential is there. If he just learns to play with lower pad level on a consistent basis, especially as a nose, and work on building a stronger base, he could be an excellent run defender. And in fact, when occasionally lined up as a 5-tech defensive end, his pad level was much better, and given his athleticism and size, this may be a better spot for him in a 3-4 front in the NFL.

Pass Rush: (4.0/5.0)

Butler gets consistent push off the line, and combined with his high-motor, makes him a disruptive player as an interior rusher. He only recorded five sacks in college, but on film, he still does a nice job pushing the pocket and preventing the quarterback from stepping up and having clean passing lanes to throw through. Butler’s long arms allow him to keep separation and even bat down passes at the line of scrimmage. His bull rush is also very effective, but he still needs to develop an array of pass rush moves. Butler does show consistent hustle, chasing the quarterback outside the pocket and breaking free and creating pressure on second effort.

Agility: (4.0/5.0)

Butler is very quick off the snap, shows good lateral movement, and looks comfortable changing direction in space. He’s a surprisingly good athlete for his size, and despite disappointing testing numbers, on film he’s shown an ability to move smoothly in space and make plays. Overall, he’s an explosive athlete, which would allow him to play well on the edge as a 5-tech defensive end, if needed.

Impact Play Ability: (3.5/5.0)

Butler can be a difficult player to project because on film he puts himself in position to make plenty of plays and even be a dominant player at the line of scrimmage. In the first half of his game against Kansas State, he recorded two quarterback hurries, two tackles for loss, and recovered a fumble. However, although exciting, stretches like this are so rare with his game film. His athleticism and explosiveness put him in position to make plays, but he needs to do a better job of finishing. Five career sacks is not enough for a player of his ability. However, Butler is disruptive enough to be an asset for any defensive line at the next level.

Summary:

Butler is a scheme-versatile player who can play either nose or 5-tech defensive end in a 3-4 front, not to mention play as a down lineman in nickel. Many project Butler as a nose guard, given his size, but his athleticism, burst, and length may make him better suited lined up over the tackle in a 3-4 front. He should be a valuable prospect for 3-4 teams in the draft, and although he possesses a high ceiling and has some good film, there are areas of his game that remain raw, which hurts his draft stock. He may also not get the same respect as his peers because of the level of competition he played at in college. It would be nice to see more examples of him excelling against power-five conference teams. Having said this, Butler is still a very solid second round option at defensive line.

Overall (3.88/5.0)

If drafted by the Packers:

Butler would give Green Bay a versatile piece to utilize in various ways on the defensive line. Given Letroy Guion can already play either nose or end in a 3-4 front, Butler would give them another player that can play multiple positions on the defensive line.

Butler’s ability to eat up space and hold the point would give them another stout run defender at the line of scrimmage, while also giving them a big body to hold off blocks and keep their linebackers clean to swarm to the ball.

Butler would also give them another interior player to push the pocket and create pressure. He could rotate in with Mike Daniels, Guion, Mike Pennel, and Christian Ringo as one of the two interior rushers in the Packers oft-used nickel look.

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