York lands CFC 100 Alberta linebacker Butler

TORONTO – The York University Lions football team signed its first big recruit of the off-season on Wednesday night (Dec. 10) with the commitment of linebacker Jakob Butler.

Butler, 6’1, 205 lbs. from Sherwood Park, Alta., is the highest-ranked high school linebacker in the country and one of the top overall recruits for the class of 2015. 

“I am so thrilled that Jake has decided to come to York,” said head football coach Warren Craney, who also serves the same role for the Canadian team. “He is, without a doubt, the biggest recruit we have signed since I came here. He is a difference-maker on the field and will have an immediate impact on our line-up. I also believe he will help attract other top talent to our program because other defensive players are going to want to play with him.”

In addition to his international experience, Butler had a successful high school career at Salisbury Composite High School. He earned the senior team’s most valuable player award in each of the last two seasons while helping the Sabres win the top Carr Conference title in 2013 and reach the final again this year.

On the Lions, he joins fellow Sherwood Park standout and junior national team member Rees Paterson, who just completed his first season as a cornerback and earned OUA all-rookie team honours. Together, the two of them will form a tremendous young tandem on defence that Craney and his staff can build around for years to come.