DEANDRE BUTLER

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Change PageDeandre Butler’s call to football came from his dad in middle and high school, but he has found a new passion for the game since coming to Troy for the 2019 season after transferring from Jacksonville State. The 6-4 senior was a former UAB commit who had aspirations to play in big-time games. An opportunity he earned over the last two seasons with road games against SEC opponents South Carolina and Ole Miss. “I wanted to play bigger ball,” said Butler. “My dad was the running backs coach/special teams coordinator here, and I really wanted to play bigger football in general, and it happened that coach Ryan Pugh liked me, and I came here because it was close to home. It was easy for my family to access games.” Butler’s dad, coached the Trojan special teams and running backs from 2018-2020 but was the senior’s coach throughout his childhood, and for two seasons, a coach during Butler’s time in college. The Opelika native is set on finishing his fifth and final season off with a great season both on and off the field and has taken to the role of being a senior leader by mentoring some of his underclassmen teammates. “Just be a team first player, care for your team. I have my days, but overall on the field off the field, most people know they can come to me. I want people to think that he was a hard player and he played for his team.” A winning culture is something that has developed at Troy since the arrival of new head coach Jon Sumrall and to open his third season as a Trojan, Butler has seen a tremendous shift in culture in the locker room. “It has come a long way. You can tell that we are actually playing for each other, and you can tell that people are willing to give their all on the field. Coach Sumrall makes it even better, he makes it, so you have to go 110%.” The arrival of a new head coach and added anticipation to the season has made players like Butler find a renewed excitement for football in the south. “I’m going to say this weekend will be crazy. It’s the first home game, a new era with coach, the excitement that troy can bring, I feel like it’s going to be packed. It’s going to be fun. Troy is a football town, it should be a lot of fun with a good atmosphere.” Butler hopes that the 2022 home opener will serve as one of the many memories he has made during his three seasons at Troy. However, he claims that when his playing days are over, he won’t remember the big games as his fondest memory. “Playing the big schools will be a memory, but my memories are every day. On the field, off the field, I have a good bond. I made some lifelong friends who I will talk to forever. My best memory is being with my boys.”