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Darien Butler NFL Draft Profile
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Darien Butler Scouting ReportDarien is a versatile inside linebacker who displays good lateral agility and short area burst. He plays fast, flows with the action. He always gives his most on every play and has good instincts and awareness to quickly find the ball. His versatility he is capable of being a 3 down defender able to defend the pass as shut down the run. Butler has the keen ability to find the ballcarrier either penetrate through the gap and punish the ballcarrier in the backfield. He also has that quickness to meet the ball carrier on the edge avoiding blocks to open up run lanes for the ball carrier to reach the second level. Darien also has enough hustle and athleticism to make plays in the flat against running backs. He lacks heigh but has the vertical and timing to knock away passes when approaching the quarterback. He is experienced in coverage and gets a strong jam on outside receivers.
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Areas for ImprovementButler is a tweener who lacks the bulk and strength to be a thumper inside. He lacks fluidity to hold up in space or drop in coverage. He washed out and caught in traffic in the middle of the field. He attacks the line but needs work on stacking and shedding blocks. He occasionally overruns plays due to aggressive nature.
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Darien Butler Career at Arizona StateAs a freshman, Darien started all 13 games despite being a true freshman, serving as an integral part of the defense. He took home the Ron Pritchard Outstanding Linebacker Award at the team banquet. He finished his first season tied for second on the team in tackles (70) and tackles for loss (8.0). He also lead the defense with two fumble recoveries. Following year as a sophomore, he was named the first true sophomore captain in ASU program history. He led ASU with 90 tackles and tied for the team lead with three fumble recoveries. Butler would go on to be the 7th highest graded linebacker in the Pac-12 on run defense, according to Pro Football Focus. His junior year he earned captaincy status for the second consecutive year, serving as a leader for the defense. He played in all four games for the Sun Devils, starting twice. He finished with 15 tackles, 1.5 for loss and a fumble recovery. On November 1, 2021 Darien Butler was named as a Butkus Award Semifinalist. |
Darien Butler NFL Draft Player ProfileButler, a captain for the Sun Devils, brought home numerous honors and recognition including the team's Mike Haynes Defensive MVP Award while also being nominated as a semifinalist for the Butkus Award, annually awarded to the nation's top linebacker. Butler's abilities in both run support and pass coverage earned him regular playing time on every down, as his sideline-to-sideline range will be difficult to replicate for the Sun Devils moving forward.
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