Butler Begins Spring Football Practice March 23
INDIANAPOLIS, IND. -- Butler will kickoff its 2012 football bid
this week with the first of 15 spring practices on Friday, March
24. The Bulldogs will have at least two practices each week
for five straight weeks, concluding with the annual Blue-White
Spring Game on April 21.
Head coach Jeff Voris will be looking to replace several key
players from last year’s squad, including the standout
passing combination of wide receiver Zach Watkins and quarterback
Andrew Huck. Watkins, a first team All-Pioneer Football
League pick, finished his career as Butler’s all-time leading
pass receiver. He set Butler single season records for
receptions (80) and receiving yards (1,044) in 2011 and finished
with career marks for both catches (254) and receiving yards
(2,994).
Huck finished second on Butler’s all-time list for passing
yards with 6,560 career yards. He also wound up second
all-time at Butler with 53 career touchdown passes. The
three-year starter, who helped lead the Bulldogs to an 11-1 record
in 2009, passed for 2,241 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2011.
Butler also has to replace graduated All-PFL players Pete Mattingly
(OL), Nick Caldicott (LB), Grant Hunter (DE), Andy Dauch (DB),
Jordan Koopman (WR) and David Lang (PK).
On the plus side, Voris can look to six returning All-PFL
performers, including two-time, first team All-League linebacker
Jordan Ridley. The senior-to-be has led the PFL in tackles
for two consecutive seasons, and he’s ranked in the
“Top 10” in the NCAA Division I FCS in tackles for two
straight years. Last season, Ridley finished with 140 total
tackles, including a league-high 94 assists.
Also back from last year’s All-PFL team are running back Trae
Heeter, tight end Matt Jenson, offensive linemen Matt Storey and
Jay Howard and defensive back Sean Grady. Heeter led the
Bulldogs in rushing in 2011 with 713 yards, while Grady tied for
the team lead in pass interceptions with three. Storey and
Howard each started all 11 games last fall.
Butler’s spring game will be played at the Butler Bowl at 10
a.m. on Saturday, April 21. The Bulldogs also will host the
Second Annual High School Coaches Clinic on Friday, April 13.
Butler Spring Practice Schedule
March 23 - Practice #1, 4 p.m.
March 24 - Practice #2, 10:45 a.m.
March 26 - Practice #3, 7 p.m.
March 28 - Practice #4, 7 p.m.
March 30 - Practice #5, 4 p.m.
March 31 - Practice #6, 10:45 a.m.
April 4 - Practice #7, 7 p.m.
April 6 - Practice #8, 4 p.m.
April 9 - Practice #9, 7 p.m.
April 11 - Practice #10, 7 p.m.
April 13 - Practice #11, 4 p.m., 2nd Annual High School Coaches
Clinic
April 14 - Practice #12, 10:45 a.m.
April 18 - Practice #13, 7 p.m.
April 20 - Practice #14, 4 p.m.
April 21 - SPRING GAME, 10 a.m.
