Top safety has big change of plans

Lauderdale Lakes (Fla.) Boyd Anderson safety Brandon Butler sees his name listed as one of the top recruits in the Sunshine State. He's made lists in major newspapers as one of the best defensive backs in Florida. However, he has not seen the attention from colleges that one would expect from such a highly regarded prospect.

The problem is, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound defender is a bit of an overachiever. The lists Butler finds himself on are for the class of 2012. However, he is all set to graduate with his older teammates this May. While some major programs are aware of his change in classification, most are not. It could cause him to change his plans a bit if recruiters don't take notice.

"I'm still debating it a little bit," Butler said. "I don't know if I'm going to graduate this year for sure or stay for another year. I'm getting my credits done in school where I don't have to be there next year.

"My aunt wants me to maybe stay for another year, though. She thinks I'll have more options in terms of offers if I wait. Schools don't really know I can graduate this year so I haven't as many offers as if I'd wait. She likes the schools I have offers from right now, but she wants to see what it would be like if I had more options."

A few schools have reached out an offered the big safety and Butler says several others are recruiting him. He is just not sure for which recruiting cycle they are recruiting him.

"I still have the same offers that I got this summer," he said. "I've got ones from FIU, FAU and Kent State. I've been hearing a lot from Florida State, Missouri, Miami and Florida. Florida State has basically offered me but I haven't gotten any papers from them."

Butler had a chance to make a trip to Tallahassee this summer and came away impressed. However, the Seminoles may have some ground to make up through no fault of their own.

"I took a visit to Florida State," he said. "I talked to one of the coaches for a while. They showed me around the school and all that. It was a nice school; I liked it.

"I'd prefer not to be in Florida, though. I just want to experience something new. I want a different environment, see different things, meet new people and stuff like that. I like LSU, Alabama, Michigan and Oregon. Oregon has been recruiting me a little bit. I think they all still think I'm just a junior, though."

As a bigger defender, Butler provides versatility for Boyd Anderson. He lines up at several positions for the Cobras but says there is one spot he plans to play at the next level.

"We were running a 3-4 and they had me in the box at linebacker," he said of his team's victory over Plantation in their Kickoff Classic game this past Saturday. "My position I'll be playing mostly this year is free safety. That's where I feel the most comfortable at and it's where I'm going to play in college.

"It all depends on the teams we play. If the offense comes out running Wing T like this last weekend, I'm going to be in the box. The rest of the time, I'll be at free safety. I play downhill and can cover."