NFL Draft 2012: University of Georgia Punter Drew Butler, the Next 'Butthead'

Drew Butler was among the elite punters in college football in 2011 and he knows a thing or two about life in the NFL.  Butler's father is Kevin Butler, the place-kicker for the Chicago Bears from 1985-1995 who was lovingly nick-named "Butthead."  Drew sat down with the Bleacher Report during the 2012 NFL Combine and he and I had a good conversation.

The University of Georgia has a great history of producing quality special-teams players and getting them into the NFL.  We talked about what it was like to play for a school with such a special-teams lineage.  He said:

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"Georgia has had a record of very successful punters and kickers. You know you are looking at guys like Jon Kasay who is still playing in the league, my father Kevin Butler, who had a successful NFL career. Todd Peterson played, I am trying to think, Brandon Coutu’s played in NFL games, you know there’s just so many guys. 

"Blair Walsh is having a big year this year and he’s killing the kind of draft process, and he had a great day today in Indianapolis kicking in front of all the scouts and coaches so, you know, being able to help and kind of add to that legacy has been a huge part of Blair’s and my career, and I think we definitely understand what’s at stake at Georgia and the kind of tradition that’s there, so to be able to kind of live up to that and add to it, it’s a blessing."

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Playing football in the SEC is special, and it was clear that Butler took pride in being a Georgia Bulldog.  We talked about what it was like to kick at Georgia and what his favorite moments were in college.  He said:

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"Man, just all the memories that I’ve had at college.  Obviously from a personal level having won the Ray Guy Award and being an All-American and an academic All-American, those are all great things but the things we accomplished as a team.  Being the No. 1 net punting team in 2009 and having played in the SEC Championship this past year. 

"Just a great group of guys that I was fortunate enough to play with, you know I love all of them to death and I think we accomplished some great things this past year, kind of helped put Georgia back on the map and that was one of our goals at the beginning of the season so, definitely having been a leader of that team and being voted a team captain, it’s huge. I love Georgia and I always will, and I look forward to going back."

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Butler is going to be kicking in the NFL in 2012 and he should be effective enough as a punter to play for quite some time.  I wanted to know what he felt he could offer to the team that drafted him.  He said:

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"I think I can just add that consistency that coaches want from a special teams standpoint.  I am going to be a great punter, I’m going to be a great holder, I’m going to add dependability and coach-ability. 

"You know, the opportunity to work with a coach day in and day out in the NFL it’s going to be huge and I know that I’m going to be able to relish that opportunity and be able to be consistent enough to be able to do exactly what he wants to do every single time and that’s what I’m here for and I think throughout the Senior Bowl, throughout my career at Georgia and throughout today’s Combine I’ve showed that I am very consistent and that I can make all of the punts necessary."

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Talking with Drew Butler was a pleasure and he was informative, friendly, fun and engaging.  He was more than willing to talk about a variety of topics, from his fantasy football success to his father's kicking history and what it was like growing up in a home with a NFL kicker. 

This much can be promised to whatever fanbase gets Drew Butler.  You are going to like the fact that he plays for your team.  He will be great in your team's locker room and in your city.