Utah announced the signing of four-star defensive back Cory Butler out of Los Angeles Harbor Community College today. Butler will enroll at the University of Utah as a junior with three years to play two. He was rated No. 26 on ESPN.com's JC 50 list.
This past season, Butler earned National Division-Central Conference second-team defense honors. As a sophomore cornerback at L.A. Harbor, he had 46 tackles, four tackles for a loss, five interceptions, six pass breakups, and a fumble recovery. Butler led L.A. Harbor in kickoff returns (18 for 445 yards, 24.7 average, 1 TD) and punt returns (nine for 36 yards). As a freshman at L.A. Harbor in 2013, he had 42 receptions for 583 yards, with seven touchdowns, and rushed 66 times for 327 yards (5 yards per carry average) and two touchdowns.
This was the recruit the Utes couldn't afford to let slip away. They didn't, and Butler (which Utah lists at 5-9, 175) adds to an already loaded secondary for 2015. According to Hudl, he was clocked at 4.35 in the 40, giving the Utes another burner on the corner who can run with Pac-12 wideouts.
Butler's film* shows a sure handed defensive back with some serious wheels. He's elusive in the return game, shifty, and can flat outrun others. He's disciplined, focused, and can lay the wood on opposing wide receivers. He stays with his assignments but can step up in run support. With his speed and tenacity, Butler is just the kind of blitzer Whittingham's defensive coordinators like to bring off the edge from the secondary. He also gets off blocks and makes some nice hits in the open field.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Welcome 4-star rivals & scout CB Cory Butler of LA Harbor College! Bio, video <a href="http://t.co/guTZPnoQtI">http://t.co/guTZPnoQtI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UtahNSD15?src=hash">#UtahNSD15</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SigningDay?src=hash">#SigningDay</a></p>— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) <a href="https://twitter.com/utahathletics/status/563072875901747201">February 4, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
*All stats and film courtesy of Hudl.