Kam Butler, Virginia Football News: Draft Scout Player News

03/01/23 - DE Kam Butler, rSr/2025, Virginia

Senior defensive end Kam Butler expressed a similar sentiment and said "absolutely" UVa is capable of changing its trajectory for the better. Butler joined the Cavaliers last season as a graduate transfer from Miami (Ohio) and is only back for 2023 because he's taking advantage of the extra year the NCAA granted UVa players whose eligibility would've expired after this past fall. The NCAA made that ruling on the heels of the November shooting, which tragically killed former Cavaliers Lavel Davis Jr., D'Sean Perry and Devin Chandler.

Butler's original plan prior to gaining the sixth year in college football, he said, was to finish his master's degree in higher education this spring while simultaneously training for the NFL with UVa's strength coaches. For now, he's gladly put the pro dream on hold. "I wanted to get back with the team," he said. "I started building some great relationships with people off the field on the administrative side of things for the athletic department and I wanted to build on those relationships going forward, too, and I like the strength staff here. I like the coaching staff here, so I feel like it would've been weird to not come back or not right for me to go somewhere else." His sense is there are enough returning players with experience to enforce the practice habits and expectations Elliott introduced to the Hoos last year as well as to teach coordinator John Rudzinski's defense, which the Cavaliers improved while using last year, to new additions on the team. Most notably, the defensive line is filled with fourth-, fifth- and sixth-year players with Butler and Aaron Faumui, Chico Bennett Jr., Jahmeer Carter and Paul Akere. - Charlottesville Daily Progress

rSr/2025