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INDIANAPOLIS – College football is back! The Butler Bulldogs will face the Illinois State Redbirds on Saturday night at 7:30 PM. Fans can watch the game on the Marquee Sports Network or stream it on ESPN 3.
 
Bulldog Bits
- Yogi Flager was named to the HERO Sports' 2020-21 Freshman All-America Team.
- Flager, Johnny O'Shea and Skyler Spetter represented BU as Second Team All-Pionner League selections.
- Aguilar, Caselberry, Purlee, Samuels, Scott and Wadas were tabbed PFL honorable mention.
- Bryan Bystol and Colton Ruhland were named Academic PFL First Team.
- Butler did not allow a 100-yard receiver last year.
- Kavon Samules led BU in rushing attempts (104) and receptions (28) last season.
- Nick Orlando was used as a QB, RB, WR and PR during the spring 2021 season.
- Butler will host the top three teams in the PFL Preseason Coaches Poll this season.
- Butler returns 39 of the 44 players that were listed on the 2-Deep depth chart last year for Week 1 of the regular season.
- QB Sam Brown will miss the 2021 season with an injury. QB Bret Bushka is slated to make the first start of his collegiate career.
 
PFL Schedule – Week 1
Butler at Illinois State    
Robert Morris at Dayton
Marist at Georgetown
Morehead State at James Madison
Valparaiso at Indiana Wesleyan
 
SCOUTING ILLINOIS STATE: The Redbirds were picked seventh in the MVC Preseason Poll. Indianapolis native Bryce Jefferson (Decatur Central) will be under center at the start of the 2021 fall campaign for head coach Brock Spack. This spring, Jefferson completed 54 passes for 640 yards over four games. He also handed the ball off to Pha'leak Brown, a MVC All-Newcomer Team selection that led the team with 271 rushing yards. Jefferson's top target this spring was tight end Tanner Taula. A 6-6 junior, Taula led the team with 13 receptions for 122 yards.
 
Fullback Timothy McCloyn II earned a spot on the MVC Preseason All-Conference Honorable Mention Team. Punter JT Bohlken is also on the preseason watch list for the 2021 FCS Punter of the Year Award.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES: Illinois State is 2-0 all-time against Butler. The first-ever meeting was played in Indianapolis during the 1949 season. Illinois State won that game 14-0. The Redbirds hosted the action in 2017. The season opener went down as a 45-0 victory for the home team.
 
Tony Hinkle was the Butler football head coach in 1949 when the Bulldogs hosted the Redbirds.
 
HANCOCK STADIUM: The Redbirds are 35-8 at Hancock Stadium since the 2013 renovation. The new look features field turf and seating capacity for 13,391 fans.
 
Redbird alum James Robinson (Jacksonville Jaguars) ran for 4,444 yards over his four-year career at Illinois State (2016-19). He ran for 256 yards vs. Youngstown State in 2019 to set a new individual rushing record in the new venue.
 
STOP THE RUN: During the spring season (four games) the Redbirds rushed the ball 172 times and only dropped back to pass 110 times. QB Bryce Jefferson is a dual threat rushing for 209 yards on 48 carries.
 
Butler only allowed one 100-yard rusher last season (Valpariso 2x - Robert Washington).
 
2021 TEAM CAPTAINS: Bret Bushka, Devin Aguilar, Jordan Caselberry, Johnny O'Shea, and Trevor Scott will represent the Bulldogs as captains during the 2021 season.
 
Aguilar and Scott were both captains for Butler during the 2021 spring season.
 
START STRONG: Kavon Samuels rushed for a career-high 117 yards in the first game of the 2021 spring season. It was his first 100-yard rushing performance at Butler. His second 100-yard game came three weeks later vs. Morehead State (104 yards).
 
Samuels rushed the ball 20 times in the opener vs. Valpo. He set a new career-high with 25 attempts in the contest vs. MSU.
 
COACH VORIS: Head Coach Jeff Voris enters his 16th season at Butler. He has recorded 77 wins since taking over the program in 2006.
 
Voris added three members to the coaching staff this summer. Kenny-Ray Augustus (DL), Austin Taylor (TE) and Jacob White (DB).
 
WIDE RECEIVER WEAPON: Johnny O'Shea set career-high totals the last time he was on the field. He caught eight passes for 108 yards against Morehead State before missing the final two games of the year due to an injury.
 
O'Shea has caught at least three passes in seven-straight games.
 
TEAM AWARD WINNERS: The Bulldogs handed out team awards after the completion of the 2021 spring season. Offensive MVP honors went to Kavon Samuels. The Defensive MVP award went to Isaac Kolosik and the Specials Teams MVP was AJ Deinhart
 
Battle of the Trenches Awards went to Jordan Caselberry on the defensive line and Skyler Spetter on the offensive line.
 
UP NEXT: Butler will host DePauw on Saturday, Sept. 11. Kick-off is scheduled for 6 PM.
 
Butler leads the all-time series against DePauw 44-13-3. Head Coach Jeff Voris and Defensive Coordinator Joe Cheshire both played football at DePauw.