Matt Butler

Height:
6-4
Weight:
306
Class:
Senior
Hometown:
Salisbury, N.C.
High School:
Salisbury

A battle-tested veteran who has earned starter[apos]s designation at the close of spring drills at the left offensive guard position for the third consecutive season ... Along with Josh Coffman, is expected to anchor ECU[apos]s line that features a blend of experience and youth ... Continued rapid development, which coupled with his experience, strength and knowledge of offensive scheme, will factor in continued progression as a potential honors candidate ... Flexibility also allows solid play at the center position, as evidenced by nine starts at that location as a junior ... Will open season as the owner of a 24-game starting streak - tops among all returning offensive players.

2006: One of just seven Pirates, on either side of the ball, to start every game ... Opened campaign as unit[apos]s top left guard (Navy, UAB, Memphis, West Virginia) but was moved to center prior to the Virginia game (10/7) for the remainder of the year (nine games) ... Registered 831 snaps from scrimmage with 50.0 knockdowns, which ranked second on the offensive line ... Helped anchor a line that produced three 100- yard rushing and five 100-yard receiving performances ... vs. Navy (9/2): Played role in allowing quarterback James Pinkney to pass for 283 yards (24-of-35) ... Recorded two knockdowns in 63 plays ... vs. UAB (9/9): Collected a team-best seven knockdowns in 65 plays ... vs. Memphis (9/16): Helped pave the way for Chris Johnson[apos]s fourth career 100-yard rushing game, taking all 66 snaps at the left guard position and recording four knockdown blocks ... vs. WVU (9/23): Seven knockdowns (team second-best) in 60 plays ... Helped provide backside protection for Pinkney, who threw for 247 yards on 20-of-40 completions with one TD ... vs. UVA (10/7): Recorded first career start at center and assisted a line that helped produce ECU[apos]s second 100-yard rusher of the season and its most productive ground performance of the year (208) ... Played all 78 snaps, booking three knockdowns ... vs. Tulsa (10/14): Three knockdowns in 54 plays ... vs. SMU (10/21): Credited with providing pass protection for Pinkney, who threw for a career-best 391 yards ... vs. USM (10/28): Played all 75 snaps at center, posting four knockdowns ... vs. UCF (11/4): Aided Brandon Fractious[apos] (128 yards) second 100-yard rushing performance of the season ... Took part in 78 of ECU[apos]s 79 plays from scrimmage and booked six knockdown ... vs. Marshall (11/11): Credited with three knockdowns in 53 plays ... vs. Rice (11/18): Four knockdowns in 40 plays ... vs. N.C. State (11/25): Turned in a team-high four knockdowns in 67 plays ... vs. USF (12/23): Helped offensive unit amass a total of 317 yards, its fifth-straight game over the 300-yard plateau.

2005: Started all 11 games as a sophomore ... Opened 10 contests at left guard and one at the right guard slot (Wake Forest) ... Participated in 661 snaps - an average of 60.1 per game ... Stood fourth on unit with 45 knockdown blocks (4.1 per game) ... Helped pave way, as a pass blocker, for 2,816 air yards - a mark which ranked fourth all-time in school history ... vs. Duke (9/3): Helped anchor an offensive line that allowed just one sack of quarterback Pinkney ... Was not credited with a knockdown block ... vs. Wake Forest (9/17): Starting right guard for a unit which racked up 410 yards of total offense ... Logged 75 plays and recorded two knock-downs ... vs. WVU (9/24): Only experienced 23 snaps (upper body discomfort) ... Was in long enough to get credit for three knockdown blocks ... Graded out at 75% ... vs. USM (10/1): Starting left guard and key contributor for 363 yards of total offense ... Played in 52 of 62 snaps and registered four knockdowns ... Graded out at 77.0 percent ... vs. Rice (10/8): Part of an offensive front that did not allow the Owl defense to sack QB James Pinkney ... Provided solid pass protection for a 355-yard aerial assault ... Played in all 65 plays and was credited with six knockdowns ... vs. SMU (10/15): Appeared in all 73 plays with a 70% grade ... Continued solid pass protection for Pinkney, allowing him to throw for over 200 yards in six straight contests ... vs. Memphis (10/22): Participated in 66 plays and graded out at 62% with two knockdowns ... vs. UCF (10/29): Helped open holes for an ECU rushing attack to gain a season-high 272 yards (6.6 ypc) ... Participated in all 87 plays from scrimmage while earning a career-high 10 knockdowns ... vs. Tulsa (11/12): Was in on 56 plays, earning five knockdown blocks ... vs. Marshall (11/19): Helped Pirate offensive unit to a 464-yard output ... Appeared in 49 plays, earning a 71% grade and posted three knockdowns ... vs. UAB (11/26): Racked up eight knockdowns in season finale against UAB and helped ECU to its second straight 400-yard outing.

2004: Experienced action in eight games, all coming off the bench as one of the top reserves at both guard slots behind Charlie Dempsey, Hagen Mason, Gary Freeman and Trey Magee ... Credited with participation in 58 plays (snaps) and earned a composite 61.0 percent grade ... Booked five knockdown blocks.

2003: Redshirted during initial season in Pirate program ... Cited for efforts on scout squad.

High School: A four-year football and basketball letterman at Salisbury High School ... A two-time all county and all-conference performer ... Selected as the county[apos]s defensive player-of-the-year as a senior ... Registered 90 tackles, 10 sacks and three blocked punts during senior campaign ... Coached by David Keys ... Picked up three additional letters in baseball (first and third base) ... Earned all-conference baseball accolade during junior and senior seasons.

Personal: Full name is Dennis Matthew Butler ... Born January 2, 1985 at Salisbury, N.C. ... A criminal justice major ... Son of Dennis and Sarah Butler ... Has two brothers and one sister.