Dec. 14, 2007

Jason Butler
Football

Running back Jason Butler (Syracuse, NY/Henninger) capped his brilliant senior season by being named the Northeast Conference's Offensive Player of the Year. Butler put an exclamation point on his sparkling season and career with a 238-yard, two-TD effort in Wagner's 41-27 season-ending triumph at Jacksonville on Nov. 17. The victory lifted the Seahawks to a 7-4 record, Wagner's first seven-win season since 2002.

Fittingly, the 6-1, 195-pound Butler raced 41 yards for a TD on the final carry of his Seahawk career to seal the victory. In just his second season as a RB, after being converted from safety, Butler finished the season with 1,713 yards, second on the all-time NEC single-season rushing list behind Justise Hairston of Central Conn. State who gained 1,847 yards in 2006. In a fact that gained mention in the Nov. 19 edition of The USA Today, Butler rushed for 100 or more yards in all 11 games this season, becoming the first NEC player to do so. Butler ended the regular season ranked third in the nation in all-purpose yards (197.36/game) and fourth in rushing yards (155.73/game).

His 238-yard outing vs. Jacksonville was the second-highest total he has amassed in a game (career high is 269 vs. La Salle on Nov. 3), and marked the third 200-yard game of the season as he went for 201 yards (and four TDs) in a win at Monmouth. In addition to achieving the second-highest rushing total in NEC history, Butler's 1,713 yards are second on the Wagner all-time rushing list. On Nov. 24, Butler was the leading ground-gainer in the North's 35-7 win over the South in the East Coast Bowl, with 46 yards on 14 carries. The East Coast Bowl is an all-star game that features the top 75 Division I-FCS, II, III and NAIA athletes.

Q: "Offense or Defense?"

A: "Well, that's hard to say. I wasn't too excited when Coach Hameline first approached me about switching to offense. But I grew into the position and I really like it now. I do miss defense sometimes. In the all-star game, they used me as a gunner on the punt team and I nailed a guy just as he was receiving the ball. It brought back some memories. I also recovered two fumbles in the game I just want a chance at the next level - offense, defense special teams, it doesn't matter to me."

Q: "Biggest hit you ever received?"

A: "Oh man, it was my own teammate. Joe Harkins (defensive lineman) got me in spring practice one time. Just as I was taking the handoff, bam! He nailed me. I never saw him coming."

Q: "Did you fumble?"

A: "Nope."

Q: "You must be aware of the fact that, in touching the ball 355 times this season (316 rushing attempts, 13 receptions, 13 punt returns and 13 kickoff returns), you did not fumble the ball one time?"

A: "Yep. And I'm proud of that. Last year, I fumbled four times but this year I didn't have any. The last time I fumbled was in preseason camp when Al Phillips drilled me at the goal line."

Q: Since the season ended, what are some of the things you are doing to enhance your aspirations of becoming a professional athlete?"

A: "I am in the process of selecting an agent. I am sorting through four or five different options right now and should be finalizing that soon. I've been lifting a lot, trying to get stronger. In March, there is a Pro Day up in Syracuse. A Pro Day is when a bunch of scouts come out and put a lot of guys through workouts and different tests. I have to work on my 40-yard dash since I haven't really ever run track."

Q: "Why did you select Wagner College and what other schools were actively recruiting you?"

A: "I chose Wagner because it's a great school with a great atmosphere and a really nice campus. Plus, I had a chance to play for a great head coach in Coach Hameline and an outstanding coaching staff. I liked that it was a smaller school, where the class sizes are smaller and you can get a lot of one-on-one attention. I had a different variety of schools I was speaking with. Shaw University, a D-2 school in North Carolina, was on me, Central Florida and Northeastern were some others."

Q" "You have an older brother who played in the NFL, no?"

A: "Yeah, my brother Terry played was on the Jets for about a year. He went to Villanova. They were recruiting me too but I would've been known as Terry's little brother there. He's 25 now. He's been helping me with the process. My father (Terry) was a good athlete too. He grew up in Opalaka, Alabama and I have a bunch of Aunts and Uncles down there. My whole father's side of the family lives there. My mother (Karen) is from Syracuse."

Q: "Do you have a favorite athlete or NFL team?"

A: "Brian Westbrook. He excels in all three phases (running, catching, special teams). He does it all. I'd say the Eagles, because of him, are my favorite team."

Q: "Any significance to wearing the number 27?"

A: "I wear it because I was a big Eddie George fan growing up. I wore it all through Pop Warner and high school."

Q: "Is there a little-know fact about you, something people might know about you?"

A: "I like bird-watching."

Q: "Bird-watching?"

A: "Yeah, I just like watching them. Like today, right before class, I was watching this huge bird tear apart a squirrel. It must have been some sort of vulture."