#33
Jerry Butler
Senior
Running Back
5-9 • 195
Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington HS (Wisconsin)

High School: Enjoyed an outstanding high school career at Philadelphia’s George Washington High School where he played for coach Ron Cohen...rated by Rivals.com as one of the Top 25 players in Pennsylvania as a senior and one of the Top 70 in the nation...rated among top 20 players in Pennsylvania by SuperPrep...named Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News Player of the Year for the area as a senior in 2004...won prestigious Maxwell Club Award as top player in Philadelphia...nominated to play in Big 33 Game...team Most Valuable Player and captain as a senior...rushed for 1,759 yards on 172 carries as a senior and finished career with 3,350 yards and 40 touchdowns...outstanding defensive player who was recruited by Penn State as a defensive back...ran track and was Philadelphia Public League 100 meters champion as a senior.

At Delaware: Third-year transfer from the University of Wisconsin...has senior eligibility...one of team's fastest players...will battle for the starting running back spot with junior Phillip Thaxton and walk-on redshirt freshman David Hayes...will return to duties as one of the nation's top kickoff return specialists...was leading rusher in spring game when he gained 103 yards on seven carries, rambled 75 yards on one carry, and scored from two yards out on another...also caught two passes...has changed number from 22 to 33 to honor a former high school teammate who was paralyzed last year.

2008 Season: Returned to action after missing a full year with a knee injury and was solid as a backup running back and spectacular as a late-season kickoff return specialist...played in all 12 games and earned a start in the backfield vs. William & Mary...was team's fifth leading rusher with 162 yards on 42 carries (3.9 avg.) and two touchdowns...rushed for a season-high 92 yards on 12 carries with one touchdown vs. West Chester...also scored a touchdown vs. Albany...also caught three passes for 29 yards (9.7 avg.)...had two receptions for 14 yards vs. William & Mary...found his calling late in the season when began returning kickoffs...returned 12 kickoffs for 355 yards and a 29.7 avg. with two touchdowns...29.7 average was the second best mark in UD history behind a 30.3 avg. by Bill Hopkins in 1964...did not have enough attempts to qualify among the CAA and NCAA leaders...returned a kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown vs. James Madison Nov. 1 and came back the next week to return one 98 yards for a score vs. Towson...was named CAA Co-Special Teams Player of the Week vs. Towson...became first UD player in school history to return a kickoff for a touchdown in consecutive games...tied school record for kickoff returns for a touchdown in a season and career, both held by Hopkins...the 98-yard return was the second longest in UD history and longest since the record of 99 by Buck Thompson in 1946...team went 4-8.

2007 Season: Was slated to battle for No. 2 spot at running back behind All-American Omar Cuff but was lost for the season due to a knee injury early in pre-season...transferred to Delaware during the Winter Session in January, took classes in the spring semester, and took part in spring drills...rushed six times for 17 yards and scored a touchdown in spring game....team went 11-4 and advanced to the NCAA FCS title game.

At Wisconsin: Two-year member of nationally-ranked University of Wisconsin Badger squad.

2006 Season: Redshirt freshman at Wisconsin for first-year head coach Bret Bielema...backup running back who moved as high as No. 2 on the depth chart...team went 12-1 in 2006 and defeated Arkansas in the Capitol One Bowl...saw action in three games for the Badgers, carrying twice for no yards and returning two kickoffs for 16 yards.

2005 Season: True freshman at Wisconsin...did not see action for team that went 10-3 and defeated Auburn 24-10 in the Capitol One Bowl for head coach Barry Alvarez...retained freshman eligibility.

Personal: Jerry Malik Dominic Butler...born March 20, 1986...business finance major with a minor in accounting at Delaware...son of Jerry Butler and Kimberly Nelums-Butler...has six sisters and six nephews...has worked in the UD Bookstore during summer...worked as a camp counselor for his former youth team, the Frankford Chargers in Philadelphia during the summer and also worked in food service at Packer Avenue Foods...avid video game player...would like to work on Wall Street after graduation.

CAREER RUSHING STATISTICS

RECEIVING

KICKOFF RETURNS

Career-High Rushing Yardage: 92 yards vs. West Chester, 2008
Career-High Receiving Yardage: 15 yards vs. Albany, 2008