INDIANAPOLIS – Butler football head coach Mike Uremovich is pleased to announce the addition of 20 student-athletes to the program for the start of the 2023 campaign. This unit is composed of five defensive backs, four offensive linemen, three defensive linemen, two wide receivers, two tight ends, two linebackers, one quarterback, and a specialist.
 
"We are really excited about this recruiting class," said Uremovich. "Our goal was to start in Indiana and work our way out. I thought the coaching staff did a great job identifying kids early in the process who are great students, love physical football, and want to be a part of the Butler community. We will add a few more to the class over the next few weeks but the majority of the class is in place. It is really exciting to welcome these young men and their families into the program."
 
Nik Belski
OL
6-2, 275
LaSalle, Ill.
LaSalle-Peru Township H.S.

Two-year starter for head coach Jose Medina at LaSalle-Peru Township High School. Belski was a First Team All-State selection as a senior and was tabbed WLPO Offensive Lineman of the Year. The team captain was also an Interstate 8 All-Conference selection as well as a Prep Redzone 5A First Team All-State honoree.

Why Belski Chose Butler
"I found a great school that will prepare me for the future with a great football program. I'm excited to live out my dreams of playing college football at Butler."
 
Eric Bower
OL
6-6, 265
Lake in the Hills, Ill.
Huntley H.S.

Two-year starter for head coach Michael Naymola at Huntley High School. Helped his team post an 8-2 record that ended with a conference championship. Tabbed All-Conference, All-Area and Academic All-State.

Why Bower Chose Butler
"It gives me the best opportunity to continue my education and build an academic foundation that will lead to success in the future. I also get the opportunity to play for an outstanding program and coaching staff."

Nick Cloyd
DB
5-11, 175
Brownsburg, Ind.
Brownsburg H.S.

Two-year starter for head coach John Hart at Brownsburg High School. Team captain that helped Brownsburg win back-to-back sectional championships. Intercepted seven passes as a senior while adding 40 tackles and 14 breakups. Picked off three passes in 2021 with 47 tackles and five breakups. Cloyd was a two-time HCC All-Conference selection that guided his team to a 10-2 record in 2022. His top individual performance came in the first round of the sectionals vs. Ben Davis. Cloyd returned an interception for a touchdown and ended the game with four pass break-ups and five tackles.

Why Cloyd Chose Butler
"Butler has the best of both worlds, academically and athletically."
 
Peyton Daniels
DB
5-9, 165
Fishers, Ind.
Hamilton Southeastern H.S.

Two-year starter for head coach Michael Kelly at Hamilton Southeastern High School. Part of a team that won a conference, sectional and regional championship with a 12-1 overall record that included a perfect 7-0 mark in conference. Daniels had 33 tackles as a senior with an interception and seven pass breakups. He made three stops behind the line of scrimmage and also added a sack. In 2021, Daniel came up with 36 tackles, 13 pass breakups and two interceptions.

Why Daniels Chose Butler
"Butler had my major and I developed a great relationship with the position coach. I can tell the coaching staff and team is dedicated and I hope to have an impact on the team."
 
Jack Davis
S
6-1, 195
Northville, Mich.
Detroit Catholic Central

Two-year starter for head coach Dan Anderson at Detroit Catholic Central High School. Helped his team win a district championship in 2022 after posting an 8-3 record. Davis made 61 tackles during his senior season while picking off two passes, forcing a fumble and recovering a fumble. He was named All-Catholic and Academic All-State. His top individual performance of 2022 came against De La Salle when he recorded 14 tackles and broke up a pass.

Why Davis Chose Butler
"I knew it would be the best place for me to build my academic and athletic legacies."
 
George Dristiliaris
DL
6-3, 245
Lowell, Mass.
Lowell H.S. (Valparaiso Transfer)

Two-year starter for head coach Rob Pike at Lowell High School. Dristiliaris was an All-Conference talent that led Lowell in sacks during the 2019 season. He led all defensive linemen in tackles and had four multi-sack games as a senior. While at Valpo, Dristiliaris made his collegiate debut at Butler in 2021. He played in all 11 games a year ago, recording nine tackles (two tackles for loss) and a sack.

Why Dristiliaris Chose Butler
"I felt at home here and believe that I can succeed. Butler is giving me an opportunity to play football at the D1 level."
 
Grant Edwards
TE
6-0, 235
Springfield, Ill.
Sacred Heart Griffin H.S. (Eastern Illinois Transfer)

Edwards arrived at Eastern Illinois as a Top 50 FCS Recruit by Hero Sports. As a senior in high school, he was an All-State Academic selection, along with earning all-conference honors while being a team captain. He had 51 tackles (including eight for loss) on the defensive side of the ball as a senior. His team was the 2016 state runner-up. Edwards earned his undergraduate degree in criminology/criminal justice from Eastern Illinois.

Why Edwards Chose Butler
"I am extremely grateful to be given this amazing opportunity to continue playing football during Graduate School. The coaches welcomed me from the very beginning and made me feel at home. The culture is great and a Masters degree from such a prestigious institution will add additional value to my undergraduate degree, opening up many opportunities for my future career."
 
Charlie Gardner
OL
6-5, 270
Greenwood, Ind.
Center Grove H.S.

Three-year starter for head coach Eric Moore at Center Grove High School. Gardner was part of three-straight Indiana 6A State Championship teams (2022, 2021, and 2022). Center Grove went undefeated in 2020 and 2021 and would post a 40-2 overall record over the last three seasons. Gardner was tabbed All-State, All-County and All-Conference in 2022. After his senior season, he was added to the Center Grove Athletic Hall of Fame.

Why Gardner Chose Butler
"I chose Butler to further my academic and athletic career. I am confident that Butler will successfully prepare me for a career in federal law enforcement. Athletically, I also want to be a part of the thriving, winning culture that Coach U and his staff are creating."
 
Luke Green
DL
6-1, 265
Pelham, N.Y.
Pelham Memorial H.S.

Four-year starter for head coach Artie Viggiano at Pelham Memorial High School. Green set the single-season (93) and career (251) school records in tackles. He also set new school records for most tackles for loss in a single-season (29) and career (69). Green was a two-time All-State selection that was tabbed All-Conference three times. This two-time team captain recorded 21 tackles in the last game of his high school career. He ended the 2022 campaign with 93 tackles, 7.5 sacks and 29 tackles for loss. As a junior, Green was credited with 86 tackles, 6.5 sacks and 26 tackles for loss. He was a two-time Defensive Lineman of the Year and once selected as the Defensive Player of the Year.

Why Green Chose Butler
"Butler give me the opportunity to further my academic and athletic careers at a great institution. It also felt like home."
 
Dylan Hawthorne
DB
6-2, 170
St. Louis, Mo.
Ladue Horton Watkins H.S.

Two-year starter for head coach Mike Tarpey at Ladue Horton Watkins High School. Helped his team win a conference championship by playing both defensive back and wide receiver. All-Conference talent that scored nine touchdowns in 2022. Caught 37 passes for 535 yards and made 31 tackles as a defender. Hawthorne was a team captain that year that was tabbed All-District at the completion of the season.

Why Hawthorne Chose Butler
"I believe Butler is the place that will best prepare me for my future."
 
Landon Hochstein
QB
6-4, 200
Norwalk, Iowa
Norwalk H.S.

Two-year starter for head coach Paul Patterson at Norwalk High School. Two-time All-District selection that served as a team captain in 2022. Threw for 2,143 passing yards as a senior and added 646 rushing yards to score 32 touchdowns. Hochstein left Norwalk ranked second all-time in career passing yards (4,071) and second all-time in touchdown passes. His top individual performances included throwing for 352 yards and four touchdowns vs. Indianola and going 20-for-23 vs. Pella to gain 315 yards through the air with five scores.

Why Hochstein Chose Butler
"I chose Butler for the combination of high level competition in athletics and rigor in the classroom. I also felt a strong connection between the players and coaches which made my decision clear."
 
Charles Mackley
OL
6-3, 250
Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
Brother Rice H.S.
 
Three-year starter for head coach Adam Korzeniewski at Brother Rice High School. All-State, Dream Team, All-Region, All-area, All-North, and All-Catholic talent who allowed zero sacks in his junior and senior seasons. Mackley helped his team to a 20-12 record and two district championships in his three years as a starter.
 
Why Mackley Chose Butler
"Butler has the best all-around fit. The coaching staff and players make up a great football program which is balanced well with strong academics."  
 
Blake Matthews
WR
5-11, 175
Carmel, Ind.
Carmel H.S.

Two-year starter for head coach John Hebert at Carmel High School. Matthews was an All-Conference selection as a senior after catching 26 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns. He scored on a 76-yard reception that season and averaged 11.3 yards per catch. As a junior in 2021, Matthews caught 21 passes for 200 yards and scored three TDs. He averaged 18.2 yards per catch.

Why Matthews Chose Butler
"I chose Butler to join a supportive community and I think the coaches and team will push me into the athlete that I want to become."
 
Michael Nix
WR
6-0, 168
Inverness, Ill.
Saint Viator H.S.

Three-year starter for head coach Dave Archibald at Saint Viator High School. Nix caught 50 passes during his senior season, ending the year with 1,053 yards and 12 touchdowns. He added 13 carries for 101 yards and two rushing TD's. Overall, Nix had 1,284 all-purpose yards and added a kick return TD to give him 15 total. The team captain was named All-State honorable mention, All-Conference and All-Area. As a junior, Nix caught 43 passes for 595 yards and five touchdowns.

Why Nix Chose Butler
"Butler is a high-respected academic school with high athletic standards. It feels like a great fit for me."

Jayden Norris
LB
6-1, 225
Flower Mound, Texas
Grapevine Faith
 
Three-year starter for head coach CJ Wilson at Grapevine Faith High School. Recorded 100 tackles, 10 sacks and 25 tackles for loss as a senior. Norris is a two-time First Team All-Conference selection and the program's all-time sack leader. His best individual performance came against Tyler Grace. Norris had 14 tackles that night with three sacks and four tackles for loss. He also scored a touchdown.
 
Why Norris Chose Butler
"Butler has high academics and a competitive football program. After meeting the coaches, players and support staff, I knew I could call Butler home."
 
Matthew Randar
DL
6-1, 230
Westlake, Ohio
Westlake H.S.
 
One-year starter for head coach Jason Hall at Westlake High School. Randar earned All-Conference second team and the defensive lineman of the year award in 2022. In his senior year, he recorded 41 tackles, four sacks, six tackles for loss, an interception, safety, and fumble recovery. His top individual performance came against Lakeland when he returned an interception for a pick six while adding a safety and sack.
 
Why Randar Chose Butler
"Butler has outstanding academics combined with an impressive division one football program."
 
Jackson Stratton
S
6-1, 200
Quincy, Ill.
Quincy Notre Dame H.S.
 
Three-year starter for head coach Jack Cornell at Quincy Notre Dame High School. The four-year varsity player earned All-State and offensive player of the year twice, was team MVP and served as team captain. His senior year, he recorded 81 tackles, two interceptions and five sacks. Stratton notched 280 rushing and receiving yards along with two touchdowns, 10 tackles and two tackles for loss in his top individual game performance.
 
Why Stratton Chose Butler
"Butler as a university and as a football program offered a great culture." 
 
Sam Taglia
K/P
5-11, 175
Park Ridge, Ill.
Maine South H.S.

Two-year starter for head coach Dave Inserra at Main South High School. Part of a 9-3 team in 2022 that went undefeated in conference action (5-0) and reached the 8A Quarterfinals. Went 5-for-8 on field goals that year and 30-for-34 on PAT's. Taglia's longest made field goal that season covered 37 yards and he was also credited with 35 touchbacks on kick-offs. The year before, Maine South went 12-2 overall with a 5-0 conference record and reached the 8A Finals. He went 7-for-11 on field goals in 2021 and 41-for-45 on points after. His career-long field goal split the uprights that season from 44-yards out.

Why Taglia Chose Butler
"Butler has it all. The academics, the campus, and a team on the rise all led me here."

Matthew VanSteenlandt
LB
6-2, 225
Cleveland, Ohio
Hocking Technical College
 
Two-year starter at Hocking Technical College that helped his team post a 13-8 overall record. Recognized as an All-American.
 
Why VanSteenlandt Chose Butler
"Butler gives me the best chance to reach my goals."

Beck Vermilion
TE
6-2, 230
Marion, Ind.
Marion
 
Two-year starter at Marion High School. Helped his team reach 14 conference wins and reached the Final Four in 2019. Vermilion was a team captain and was named First Team Academic All-State.
 
Why Vermilion Chose Butler
"I took a tour of campus and everything felt right. I believe Butler is the best place for me both academically and athletically.