Eric Butler Season 2024

Impressed the coaching staff right away with a solid fall camp as a true freshman in 2022 ... Enters his second season as the backup boundary warrior to senior Davaughn Celestine.

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2023)
Played in 11 games off the bench this season along with a regular on special teams ... Had 21 tackles (13 solo), including 2.5 TFLs (one sack) ... Also recorded two blocked punts ... His two blocked punts are tied for the second-most blocked kicks in SDSU single-season history and tied for the fifth most for a career in school history ... His two blocked kicks tied for the fourth most in the country this year, while his 0.18 blocked kicks per game tied for sixth ... Came off the bench to play 22 snaps in the opener with Ohio on Aug. 26, logging a then career-high three tackles (two solo) ... Came off the bench and played 43 snaps without recording a stat ... Appeared on 31 defensive snaps against UCLA on Sept. 9 ... Made one solo tackle ... Came off the bench for 17 defensive snaps at No. 16/17 Oregon State ... Had a pair of solo tackles, one shy of his career-best ... Enjoyed the best game of his career in the conference opener against Boise State on Sept. 22 ... Recorded a career-high eight tackles (six solo), including the first TFLs and sack of his career ... The eight tackles led the Aztecs and tied for the game-high ... His 2.5 tackles for loss totaled 17 yards, including an 11-yard sack ... His sack came on the second play of the second half as part of a three-and-out for the Aztec defense ... He added a four-yard TFL later in the third quarter ... Made the most of his 27 defensive snaps off the bench at Air Force on Sept. 30 ... Recorded six tackles (three solo), giving him 14 total across his last two games ... Played just two defensive snaps, but made a huge impact on special teams at Hawai’i on Oct. 14 ... Named the team’s co-special teams player of the game with Jack Browning ... After the Aztecs forced a three-and-out on the first UH drive, Butler blocked the punt, the first blocked kick off his career ... Also recorded a 14-yard punt return ... Played just two defensive snaps against Nevada on Oct. 21 ... Also played on special teams ... Played just one defensive snap against Utah State on Nov. 4, but blocked a punt on special teams ... It goes as his second blocked punt of the season, which is tied for second most in SDSU single-season history and tied for fifth most in program history ... The block came in the fourth quarter setting up the Aztecs on their own 45 leading to the game-tying field goal to force overtime ... Logged eight defensive snaps at Colorado State on Nov. 11 ... Also played on special teams ... Recorded one assisted tackle ... Logged five statless snaps and played on special teams at San Jose State on Nov. 18 ... Logged six statless snaps and played on special teams in the season finale against Fresno State on Nov. 25.

TRUE FRESHMAN SEASON (2022)
Played in 12 of the team’s 13 games, mostly on special teams ... Played 30 defensive snaps overall ... Logged seven tackles (three solo) ...  Did not play in the opener with Arizona on Sept. 3 ... Played five snaps on defense without recording a stat vs. Idaho State on Sept. 10 ... Had his first tackle (assisted) in a season-high 13 snaps at No. 14/15 Utah on Sept. 17 ... Had a special teams tackle vs. Toledo on Sept. 24 ... Played on special teams without recording a stat at Boise State (Sept. 30) and against Hawai’i (Oct. 8) ...   Had a special teams tackle at Nevada on Oct. 22 ... Did not find the stat sheet on special teams at Fresno State (Oct. 29) and vs. UNLV (Nov. 5) ... Had one tackle in five snaps vs. San Jose State on Nov. 12 ... Had his first multiple tackle game with two in seven snaps at New Mexico (Nov. 18) ... Did not have a tackle on special teams vs. Air Force on Nov. 24 ... Logged one stop on special teams vs. Middle Tennessee on Dec. 24 in the EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl.

HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Centennial High School in Corona, Calif. ... Played both sides of the ball ... Led the Huskies to the state semifinals before falling to eventual champion Mater Dei ... Centennial ended up finishing ranked third in the state, according to MaxPreps ... Team was 11-1 with an undefeated 5-0 record in league play ... Is a three-star recruit by 247sports and ESPN, and a two-star recruit by Rivals ... Owns a 247sports composite rating of 84.11 ... Received a scout grade of 85 from 247sports and 76 from ESPN.

PERSONAL
Picked San Diego State over offers from Washington, Kansas, Utah State, Fresno State, Nevada and New Mexico.

SINGLE-GAME BESTS
Tackles: 8 vs. Boise State (9/22/23)
Tackles for Loss: 2.5 vs. Boise State (9/22/23)
Sacks: 1 vs. Boise State (9/22/23)
Fumble Recoveries: 1 vs. Utah State (11/4/23)
Blocked Kicks: 1 vs. Utah State (11/4/23), at Hawai'i (10/14/23)