Drew Butler tries to impress in Mobile

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

MOBILE — Former Georgia punter Drew Butler has heard some war stories this week about his father, Kevin Butler, who played 13 seasons in the NFL.

The younger Butler is set to punt and hold on field goals and extra points for the South squad in the 63rd annual Senior Bowl at 4 p.m. Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium.

“Some guys actually scouted my dad,” Butler said. “Some guys have coached my dad. Coach [Mike] Singletary and coach [Leslie] Frazier on the Minnesota Vikings staff played with him.

“So there are a lot of connections for sure. Some of them feel old because they are scouting me and they scouted my dad. It’s cool. It all kind of comes full circle, and that’s definitely exciting.”

Butler, who played at Peachtree Ridge High, averaged 45.2 yards per punt at Georgia. He’s the second rated punter in the senior class by ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper. California’s Bryan Anger is the top rated punter.

“My dad laid out such a good framework for me to build upon,” Butler said. “Having the opportunities that I had at Georgia and being able to capitalize on them was a huge blessing.”

The Falcons drafted Matt Bosher in the sixth round of the 2011 draft. He was the only punter selected. A lot of NFL teams like to sign punters as free agents. Butler hopes to show teams that he’s worthy of being drafted.

“I think my career, in and of itself, has proven that I’m worth spending a draft pick on,” Butler said. “I’ve been a consistent performer for three years. I’ve proven that I’m able to do whatever a coach has asked me to do: directional kick, kick it high, pin somebody inside the 20 and kick it long to get us out of a jam.

“That’s one of my strengths as a punter. I look at this week as a cherry on top of a good career.”

Morris not sitting type

Washington defensive backs coach Raheem Morris, who recently was fired as Tampa Bay’s head coach, didn’t consider not coaching next season.

“I am a coach,” Morris said. “There is no sitting out in my game. I love and enjoy the grass. I’ll have plenty of time to sit down and rest at the end of this thing. Right now, I’m going to enjoy it.”

Weeden shining

Oklahoma State quarterback Brandon Weeden has separated himself as the top quarterback at the Senior Bowl.

San Diego State’s Ryan Lindley and Arizona’s Nick Foles are the other quarterbacks for the South team.

Boise State’s Kellen Moore, Wisconsin’s Russell Wilson and Michigan State’s Kirk Cousins are the North quarterbacks.

Weeden, 28, was a second-round pick of the New York Yankees in 2002. He played professional baseball before starting his football career in 2007 at Oklahoma State.

“Brandon Weeden, I think people are eventually going to try to get past that age thing,” NFL Network analyst Charles Davis said. “I don’t hear the talk about that any more. This kid can play. He’s the best quarterback on the South team by far.”