When Kameron Butler announced he had entered the transfer portal, he thanked Miami (OH) University for “an amazing 4 years,” adding that he “can’t wait to see where this takes me.”
On Friday (February 18), the 6’3”, 250-pound standout defensive end announced his second and final collegiate destination. Butler is headed to Charlottesville to play for the University of Virginia and new head coach Tony Elliott.
I’ve decided to commit to the University of Virginia! @UVAFootball pic.twitter.com/BxFrlRAecO
— Kam Butler (@kbzzz__) February 18, 2022
In addition to Virginia, Butler, a 2021 All-MAC First-Team selection and two-time All-MAC Second-Team pick, announced scholarship offers from Iowa, Kansas State, Ole Miss, Penn State and West Virginia. He gives the Hoos a third defensive lineman from the transfer portal, joining former Michigan State standout Jack Camper and Columbia’s Paul Akere. Camper has already enrolled on Grounds.
Butler and Akere each measure out in the 6’3”, 250-pound range, so they likely will be on the edge in whatever front defensive coordinator John Rudzinski utilizes. Edge rushers, Coach Elliott said, remained an offseason focus as of February 3.
“I think Aaron (Faumui) coming back was big for us in the interior d-line,” Elliott answered when asked during his February 2 press conference what remaining needs the team has this offseason. “I think we need to continue to work there to increase the numbers on the interior d-line. Still, can’t have enough of the edge rushers.”
“D-line, you can’t have enough of ‘em,” Elliott said.
Butler brings production, as he turned in an impressive career at Miami (OH). He played in 10 games as a true freshman in 2018, 14 games as a sophomore, all three games during a COVID-shortened 2020 campaign, and 13 games as a senior this past season. Butler racked up 14 tackles for loss including eight sacks his senior campaign, adding three forced fumbles and one interception. In his career in Oxford, he had 30.5 tackles for loss including 16 sacks.
The Hoos have landed six transfer prospects this offseason and very likely are not finished. Camper and wide receiver Devin Crawford (Wisconsin) enrolled for the 2022 Spring Semester. Akere, Butler, offensive lineman Mac Hollensteiner (Georgetown) and offensive lineman John Paul Flores (Dartmouth) plan on enrolling this summer.
More good news for the Hoos – Wahoowa!