Devin Butler to Transfer from Notre Dame to Syracuse: Latest Comments, Reaction

Defensive back Devin Butler confirmed Thursday he's going to transfer from Notre Dame to Syracuse for the 2017 season. 

Tom Loy of Irish247 passed along comments from the senior cornerback, who will be eligible to play for the Orange without sitting out a year since he completed his credit hours:

"

With my situation, I really wanted to go to a program where the coaches would really support me. The Notre Dame coaches definitely supported me, but I just wanted a place where I can rewrite my narrative. That's Syracuse. I wanted to put the bad light away and off my name. I wanted a chance to show people I am the man that everyone knows me to be and the man I've always been.

"

Butler also discussed the connection he made with head coach Dino Babers and his staff, as well as the differences between being recruited as a high school player and a veteran collegiate athlete.

"The Syracuse staff is genuine," he told Irish247. "The guys there treated me in a real mature fashion. It's a different recruiting process as a graduate student. You've seen the pageantry. It's more about seeing the way you'll be treated and held accountable and influence the program in a positive way."

The former Gonzaga College High School standout was a 3-star prospect and the 36th-ranked corner in the 2013 class, according to Scout.com. But the Washington, D.C. native failed to make much of an impact during his time with the Fighting Irish.

Butler accounted for just 39 total tackles across his first three seasons in South Bend. He missed the entire 2016 campaign after re-fracturing his left foot in June, an injury he originally suffered last December.

In October, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of resisting law enforcement after an incident outside a South Bend bar in August, per LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune. He entered a pre-trial diversion program, and sentencing in the case was continued for one year as a result.

Jason Krug, Brandon Kusz and Shaun Gallagher of WNDU obtained a letter that Butler, who was suspended by Notre Dame for the incident, sent to Officer Aaron Knepper following the plea:

"

Pursuant to my diversion agreement with the Office of the St. Joseph County Prosecuting Attorney, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to you and the other officers involved in my arrest on August 20, 2016. Although I was initially simply trying to separate other individuals involved in a fight, I understand how you and the other officers could have reasonably perceived me to have been the aggressor. I regret that this occurred and I acknowledge that my arrest was due to my own actions and that the officers acted appropriately.

"

Butler could earn extensive playing time during his one year at Syracuse.

The Orange struggled to defend the pass during a 4-8 season. They ranked 117th out of 128 FBS teams in passing yards allowed and 109th in defensive passing efficiency.