I don't think it was a very tough decision for me. Just knowing I'd get the opportunity to come in and get better and get ahead and learn the system rather than the other freshman who aren't doing that, so I think that's keeping me on step ahead of the game.
Kesling: You were a high school teammate with Josh Dobbs, where you guys friends when you were in high school together?
Butcher:
Yes sir, we were friends, it was nice to watch him play as my quarterback, and it's going to be nice to watch him play here too.
Kesling: how much of a factor was he in your decision to come to Tennessee?
Butcher:
Wasn't much of a factor, this was a personal decision, just whatever was best for me. It was definitely the best decision for me to come to the University of Tennessee.
Kesling: Why do you think that?
Butcher:
I think it was the best fit because of a great relationship with the coaches, fanbase, and I have family ties to the university.
Kesling: what are your family ties?
Butcher:
Most of my dad's side went to the University of Tennessee, like my grandpa was selling programs outside of Tennessee football games when coach Neyland was here.
Kesling: Wow, so they all had a lot of ties to Knoxville and the state?
Butcher:
Yes sir, my dad was actually born in UT Medical Center, so that's always cool walking to class and seeing that. That's where my dad was born.
Kesling: He was a good football player, growing up did he push you towards football?
Butcher:
Yes sir, he definitely pushed me towards football growing up. It was always nice to have him as a mentor because he played major college football, won a national championship, he knows what it takes to be the best.
Kesling: Did he help you growing up to learn about it? Did he take you to games? Do all those things?
Butcher:
Yeah he was taking me to games since I was two maybe even younger than that, been to multiple games with him. He was my coach during youth league and middle school.
Kesling: Did you play other sports growing up or has football always been the one?
Butcher:
I wrestled for four years I think. That was a learning experience, won a state championship in that, taught me how to be a winner and how to control the body which helped a lot in football.
Kesling: Are you excited about the transition? How has it been in the weight room and all those things?
Butcher:
I'm excited. Its humbling coming from high school, where I was the best ever to here, where I'm just normal right now. I'm trying to push myself to get back up to the top in the weight room.
Kesling: When did you get your first offer from Tennessee and how exciting was that day when you first got it?
Butcher:
I think it was February of 2013. I was a sophomore in high school, I was very excited. That was my second offer, I had my first one from West Virginia and it was all within like a two week span. So to go from an unknown sophomore high school football player to have an offer from Tennessee was a big deal for me.
Kesling: Are you excited about spring and getting to put the orange shirt on and get to work?
