Back for his 7th year, Kam Butler will be a difference-maker

By Jerry Ratcliffe

Virginia defensive end Kam Butler is embarking on his seventh season of college football. No, that is not a typo.

Butler, who transferred to UVA after a four-year stint at Miami (Ohio) in 2022, is in his third year as a Cavalier. After starting 44 straight games in his career, Butler was sidelined after only four games last season with a shoulder injury and was awarded a medical redshirt.

The Florence, Ky., native could have walked away after 2023, but being unable to go out on his own terms and watching as Virginia’s defense struggled en route to a three-win season left him with a bitter taste. Butler envisions a better ending as a Cavalier, and it all starts Saturday night when UVA opens the season against Richmond (6 p.m., ACCNX/ESPN+).

Certainly his experience — Butler has played in 54 games during his previous six campaigns — will be a strength for defensive coordinator John Rudzinski’s squad.

Gaining a seventh season of football has been a blessing for the 6-foot-3, 260-pound end. It has also given teammates and others a pathway to razz him about his age.

“Yeah, it’s not even just my teammates, like, it’s people in the training room that give me grief about being around for seven years because I’m older than some of the student intern trainers,” Butler said.

It’s not even good stuff, the defensive end said. Nothing like John Belushi in the film “Animal House,” when he said college was the best seven years of his life.

“They’re not even funny,” Butler said about the comments. “It’s just dumb. They’re not even good anymore. They just call me grandpa or uncle or old head. Yeah, it’s just the same old recycled everyday stuff, not imagination.”

The seventh year, though, means a lot more to Butler, who was a three-time All-Mid American Conference Team selection before his transfer.

“It’s crazy because when I first got to Virginia, I only had one year of eligibility and now I’m in my third year,” Butler said. “I’m feeling overly blessed and overly thankful to be in this position and to be with these coaches.

“I think this program is going to take off this year and I’m excited to be here for it, to look back someday that we turned this thing around. It would mean a lot, especially in my seventh season.”

Rudzinski will lean on Butler for his experience and leadership. He has posted 172 tackles in his career, including 40.5 tackles for loss, 21.5 sacks and forced five fumbles. Virginia is banking on Butler’s ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks, something the Cavaliers didn’t do much of in 2023.

Butler will anchor one end of the D-Line, while sixth-year Chico Bennett will hold down the other side.

“We’ve got to be great in the run game and it’s going to start with them being really stout and creating good edges,” Rudzinski said about Butler and Bennett helping contain enemy rushing attacks.

Last year, the Cavaliers finished No. 114 out of 130 FBS teams in rush defense, allowing 184.5 yards per game.

Rudzinski believes if UVA can shut down the run game, it puts his bookends into some manageable situations where they can rush the passer.

Butler could be in store for his best season, and that’s exciting for Coach Rud.

“You know what? Kam loves to practice and he’s continued to grow, and I’m excited for him to turn it loose in Scott Stadium on Saturday,” Rudzinski said. “If pass-rushers have one really good move, they can be effective. Kam can do multiple things.

“I think you’ve got to do a great job as far as being able to read the pass set of an offensive lineman, and Kam does a nice job of that. He’s picked up his game in finding different ways to get to the quarterback.”

Butler is keenly aware that in order for him to be turned loose in terms of becoming a heat-seeking missile toward opposing QBs, he and the front seven must control the line of scrimmage and shut down the run.

“In order to win games, we’ve got to be good on the first two downs and then moving on through third-down efficiency,” Butler said. “We’ve talked a lot about how we have to earn the right to rush the passers, so that’s stopping runs. We do those drills every day and we’re constantly talking about stopping the run.”

Virginia ranked low in terms of pressuring opposing QBs last season, partly with so many key members of the defense getting banged up.

“It’s something that we as a defensive line are priding ourselves and accepting the challenge,” Butler said. “We work on pass rush every single day. Whenever we get a free minute during practice, we’re working pass rush.”

Butler has also been working with former UVA player Mike Moore (Shawn Moore’s son), who has joined the staff as a graduate assistant. Mike Moore played seven seasons in the Canadian Football League and brings extra knowledge and insight via breaking down film and techniques to help Butler and other Cavalier defensive players.

“I can’t wait to contribute with my guys out there in any way possible, and I know everyone in the D-line room is working to be the best they can be,” Butler said.

And like the old saying goes, the seventh time is the charm, right?