BIG RAPIDS –
Nick Butler is a bit of a historian on the subject of Ferris State University Bulldog football – particularly from a defensive standpoint.
The Midland native, a well-read student of the game, doesn’t need a history boo
k to let him know about the path he is following as slips into that crimson and gold uniform and steps on the field playing a critical position: linebacker. Some of the greatest student-athletes in Ferris history have played Butler’s position, including Bulldog Athletics Hall of Famers Mike Brooks and Monty Brown – two of the legends of the gridiron at FSU.
In the years since all-time greats such as Brooks and Brown were dominating on the field, the history of Ferris’ linebackers has remained strong.
“When you think about Ferris football you start to think about so many of the great linebackers who started the tradition I am a part of right now,” said the 5-foot-10, 235-pound Butler, a senior middle linebacker by trade who had an uncle, Leroy Butler, ran track and played football at South Carolina State. “I look at some of the great linebackers I’ve been around when I think of guys like Mike Klobucher, Kevin Noe and a guy like Kevin Myers, who comes from my hometown.”
Butler specifically saluted last year’s trio of standout linebackers – a group that included Noe, Jeff Hollandsworth and Jordan Moore.
“When you watch the great players, like the ones who came before me, they become like teachers and I always tried to pick up the little things from them I could pick up and do everything I could to learn from them,” said Butler, who had 11 tackles in 11 games last season for the Bulldogs. “It’s also been a blessing to have the kind of coaching I’ve been blessed to have since I’ve been here at Ferris and that also has helped me to become better as a football player and as a person. They’re telling you what to expect and they know because they’ve been through it before.”
Like his teammates, Butler does not see Ferris’ defensive unit going through a rebuilding process. Gone are standouts such as senior consensus All-American lineman Jake Visser as well as high-quality linebackers in Hollandsworth, Moore and Noe. Those were the guys who took the leadership role while younger guys like Butler, Kyle Fitzpatrick and others have had to work hard and patiently wait for their turn.
“As a defense, we don’t feel we’re rebuilding we’re looking at it as if we’re reloading as we’re getting ready for this season,” said Butler, who in 21 games during his career has seven solo tackles, 13 assists and a total of 20. “We don’t take a year off here. We will be going out on the football field and competing as we proudly wear these colors.”
What about being a young defense this season after losing so much experience? As a senior leader and role model, Butler is not looking at it that way – especially as he enters this season.
“Age is really just a number,” said Butler, who is an Applied Biology (Pre-Medicine) major at Ferris. “We expect to be strong and the guys who are stepping up this year had a chance to learn a lot and pay dues behind the experienced guys we had last year who taught us a lot.”
The preseason has been challenging for the Bulldogs who are battling injuries to some key players in the preseason.
“The injuries are a tough part of the game of football, but when you have injuries that means there are opportunities for other guys to step up,” said Butler, who leads his team, as tradition dictates, through drills, practices, meetings, games and more. “Even with the injuries we’ve had to go through, we’ve had other experienced guys like (defensive back) Sonny Favot stepping up and younger guys like (defensive back) Cody Groulx and others who are going to make a difference for our team.
“Our expectations are still high.”
