Twenty-one Grizzlies sign with Division I Programs, ten from the sunflower state

After Wednesday's NCAA Division I early period signing day, twenty-one (21) Grizzlies are moving on to four-year universities.

"Watching our guys achieve their goals and sending them on to finish what they started here at Butler is a special thing," commented head coach Tim Schaffner.

Butler continued their rich tradition of developing and transferring guys onto the next level as seen on Wednesday's signing day. Of the twenty-one signees, ten are from the sunflower state which was the most of any state. Three signees are from Georgia and two from Texas and Missouri. Arizona, Louisiana, Illinois and Florida all had one signee from those states.

"Honestly anyone that is recruited to play four-year football is blessed," commented Schaffner. "As a coach, it is very fulfilling to watch these guys come to Butler with goals and through their hard work and dedication achieve those and achieve a lifetime dream."

Dawson Delforge, Derick Newton, Taiten Winkel and Hillard Cozine all three headed to Kansas State, will join forces with eight former Grizzlies on the Kansas State. That will give the Wildcats 12 former Butler players on their roster.

"I think proximity helps to a degree," said Schaffner on the amount of Butler players at Kansas State.  "KSU is 77 miles right up main street El Dorado.  There are some obvious family connection's and familiarity with Steve (Braet) and Taylor (Braet). A lot of our Kansas guys grow up wanting to play for KSU and they see teammates that have done so before them and our players from other parts of the country have the opportunity to learn all about the Wildcats because of the past connections. We also share the same mid-west core values, which makes each place unique at its level."

Former Butler Grizzly, Kansas State Wildcat and current Butler offensive coordinator Brice Vignery has bled purple his entire life and it is extra special when he can provide opportunities for his players to not only play at the Div. I level but continue on at his alma mater.

"Having the relationship that we do with Kansas State is a special thing. A lot of our guys grow up dreaming of playing there but not all of them are ready right out of high school. So, for us to give them that opportunity to continue playing at Kansas State I think is awesome. Once you bleed purple you always bleed purple," said Vignery.

At the two-year level, this isn't the final destination for a high number of the student athletes that come through the doors. Most of the students are using Butler as a springboard to get to a higher level using this as an opportunity to develope and thus open more doors for the future.

"What we want to instill in our players during their short time with us," said coach Schaffner, "is work ethic, accountability, resiliency and humility. "We want to teach them life skills that will carry them long after their playing days are over."

Coaching at the two-year level comes with a lot of benefits but also comes with a lot of player turnover.

"It is bittersweet for me," said Schaffner. " It is like a child leaving home I suppose. It has to happen. It happens every year, but it does make you a little sad to see each group leave, but it is the natural order of things.  If we do our jobs correctly here, leaving Butler for the next level is the intended outcome."

Butler finished the season 10-3, capping it off with a 33-23 win over Trinity Valley in the Midwest Classic bowl. This was the Grizzlies first 10-win season since 2012 and the first time since the 2007-2008 seasons to win back to back bowl games.

"Dreams do come true," finished Schaffner, "when accompanied by humility, work-ethic and character and I am so happy for our guys that are moving on." 

List of Butler early signees and preferred walk on (PWO)