Vernon Butler, DT
School: Lousiana Tech | Conference: C-USA
College Experience: Senior | Age: 21
Height / Weight: 6-3 / 325 lbs
Projected Draft Status: Early 2nd Round
NFL Comparison: Muhammad Wilkerson
College Statistics
Player Overview
Vernon Butler has the power and quickness to play and make an impact in the NFL for a long time. For such a big guy he has crazy nimble feet that are always working to clog up a running lane or to rush the passer. He has terrific initial burst and quickness (his best trait for being so large). He embarrasses offensive linemen before they can get out of their stance sometimes. He also has the power to push through linemen. He played in Lousiana Tech's hybrid front and has experience playing as a 2-Tech DT and a 3-Tech DE. He has a few fundamental and mental flaws but if he can develop and improve Butler has the potential to become and elite defensive lineman in the NFL.
Strengths
- Elite level quickness and burst off the snap.
- Good pass rushing ability.
- Ability to diagnose the run and plug the appropriate gap.
- Active hands and movement he has a good swim and bull rush move he is able to win the inside angle against o-linemen.
- Great stutter move the confuses the hell out of a lot of offensive linemen, it gets them off balance and then he powers forward.
Weaknesses
- MUST get better at tackling. Arm tackles, foot tackles and lunges are simply not going to get it done in the NFL. I can only image how many tackles for loss Butler would have had if he were better in this area. This fundamental is going to determine whether or not he becomes a pro bowl type player.
- Loses battles because he plays too high sometimes. It gets him off-balance and he loses leverage.
- Kinda related to the above but needs to play lower, he's susceptible to cut blocks that take him out easily.
Vernon Butler is really good, and I think you'll soon be hearing his name mentioned much more frequently. https://t.co/t8zqiYsY6e
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) February 8, 2016
This sack by Vernon Butler in the Senior Bowl game. Look at the power. My God.... pic.twitter.com/C30jZR0QUw
— Robbie Duncan (@DeadeyeDunkan) February 4, 2016
Wooooo. Louisiana Tech DL Vernon Butler. Just beating dudes up.
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) January 30, 2016
Check out #ProSourceSports client #VernonButler with his sack and Forced Fumble on Alabama QB Jake Coker!... https://t.co/coqfenZgOv
— ProSource Sports (@ProSourceSport) January 30, 2016
Vernon Butler penetration forces cutback, Josh Forrest cleans it up https://t.co/hMzZEXV2JX
— IDthe22 (@idthe22) January 30, 2016
.@MikeMayock compares Louisiana Tech DT Vernon Butler to Muhammad Wilkerson, Linval Joseph, Michael Brockers. #SeniorBowl
— CollegeFootball 24/7 (@NFL_CFB) January 30, 2016
DT Vernon Butler also has 34 1/8" arms. Lower body fluidity and upper body power to be disruptive. Very talented prospect.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) January 30, 2016
Vernon Butler gets arms extended, generates power to drive blocker back https://t.co/t1WekHea66
— IDthe22 (@idthe22) January 28, 2016
Watch the over-arm swim move from Louisiana Tech DT Vernon Butler, forcing RB into waiting LB. https://t.co/tDtRtcYmm3
— Rob Rang (@RobRang) January 27, 2016
LA. Tech DT. Vernon Butler is a "strong" 2nd round pick in 2016 NFL Draft.
— Michael Detillier (@MikeDetillier) January 26, 2016
He is 1 of 8 DT's in my top 52 players. https://t.co/b9gyHGtKuq
How He Would Fit on the Redskins
Kenny Clark, Jarran Reed, and Sheldon Rankins are my top 3 DT's. Watching Vernon Butler's impact on the field that's quickly changing. If somehow we got Jarran Reed in the 1st and Butler in the 2nd (highly unlikely I know) I might die. I don't throw out the E word lightly but Butler could be an elite level defensive lineman in the NFL. And at 21 years old he has a long career ahead of him to prove it. He could play any position in the Redskins 3-4 front however, I think his greatest impact would be as a DE in our 1-gap system. It would allow him to do what he does best, rush the passer and make tackles for loss. He has a high motor, he's strong, powerful, quick, and long. Butler may be the most athletically gifted DL in this draft and I have him labeled as a 2nd round pick now but I wouldn't be surprised if he made his way into the 1st round come draft day.