A four-star recruit who reportedly registered 26 sacks and 44 tackles for loss in his senior season of high school ball has made his commitment.
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Defensive end Matthew Butler (6-foot-4, 270 pounds, Garner, NC) announced his commitment on Wednesday afternoon, and the defensive play-maker picked Tennessee over instate schools like N.C. State and Duke.
Butler, who had 26 sacks as a DE for Garner chooses Tennessee over the likes of NC State and Duke pic.twitter.com/DPHeUDjchP
— Jonathan M Alexander (@jonmalexander) December 21, 2016
Related: 6'5? DE spurns Alabama, Florida State for non-traditional powerhouse
Butler is rated as a four-star recruit by the 247Sports player rankings. He joins a Tennessee class that now has 26 commitments for 2017. It's a class that ranks in the Top 15 in the nation, and one that head coach Butch Jones should be very happy with.
Butler is listed with a verified 4.70 time in the 40, so he has an opportunity to be a real difference maker on the edge at the collegiate level. High school stats generally aren't the best to go by, but those 26 sacks and 44 tackles for loss are at a different level even by high school standards.
With his size, Butler could also bulk up and play interior lineman if needed. He gives Tennessee a lot of options, and they should be excited that he is coming to Knoxville.
