Bob Jones adds linebacker; spring practice starts

Linebacker D.J. Butler with Bob Jones coach Kevin Rose (Record Photo/ Lindsay Vaught)

MADISON- “I don’t like losing.”

Direct and to the point is the message D.J. Butler brings both on and off the football field.

Butler went through his first workout on the turf field as a Bob Jones Patriot Wednesday at a walk through. Spring practice starts on May 2.

Butler transferred from Sparkman during the school year when he and his mother moved into the Bob Jones school district.

“Its good, I like the football environment. I like to compete and I like to win. They bring the best out of you,” Butler said.

He is comfortable with the players. He knew many of them like Kendall Randolph, Brad Anderson, and AJ Harris. He also likes the weight room and working out with them.

“They have made the moving easier. They do more Olympic lifts, more dead lifts, incline bench, overhead press.”

Butler picked up his first offer last week from Navy. He is not yet rated by recruiting services but he expects more by the time the recruiting process is over.

“I feel like I got to catch up a little bit. A lot of coaches are tweeting that they like my film.”

Just this week Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi State, Arkansas State, and Navy coaches were at Bob Jones looking at Kendall Randolph and checking out other players too.

At 6-foot-2, 215 pounds the junior has the physical tools. At Sparkman he played outside linebacker and his highlight reel includes a pick six against Grissom, a sack for a safety against Scottsboro, and a number of tackles in the backfield against Bob Jones.

Head Coach Kevin Rose said the combination of DJ’s athletic and superior academic progress will draw a lot of offers.

“For whatever reason he was flying under the radar and hopefully he will get some exposure here,” Rose said.

“I expect him to get 5 to 10 offers. There are not a lot of players that are as good a student as he is and has the measurables to play in the SEC. If he has a good spring training and we get some things on film good things will happen for him.

We graduated 34 seniors and we only have 3 returning on defense who started a game so we are tickled to have a good player move in. He’s very athletic and long and he will be a good fit. You are always excited to get a good student athlete. His GPA is 3.73 and its fun to coach those guys who are intelligent and good people.”

Bob Jones will have seven spring practices and host Giles County (Tenn.) on the turf field in a game on May 12 at 6 pm .