KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee VFL defensive lineman Matthew Butler has been named to the 2022 National Football Foundation’s Hampshire Honor Society, the NFF announced Wednesday.
Butler, who is preparing for the upcoming NFL Draft, is the 17th Volunteer to earn the distinction since the award’s inception in 2007.
Butler was one of the top scholar-athletes in the Southeastern Conference during his career, earning his undergraduate degree in political science in 2020 with a 3.63 GPA. He was a 2021 NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship recipient – the seventh in Vol football history – and a five-team SEC Academic Honor Roll member. Butler’s final season saw him earn a spot on the 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-America Second Team.
On the field, Butler’s stock skyrocketed as he positioned himself as one of the top defensive linemen available in the 2022 NFL Draft. In 2021, he led all UT defensive linemen in tackles (47) and was fourth on the team in tackles for loss (8.5) and third in sacks (5). He was rated among the top 10 SEC defensive linemen in rush defense according to Pro Football Focus.
The Raleigh, North Carolina, native collected 152 total tackles, 16 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks in 53 career games. A starter in 26 games, he participated in the 2022 East-West Shrine Game and showcased his skills at the NFL Combine in March.
The NFF Hampshire Honor Society is celebrating its 16th year and is comprised of college football players from all divisions of the NCAA, NAIA and sprint football who each maintained a cumulative 3.2 GPA or better throughout their college careers.
Tennessee All-Time NFF Hampshire Honor Society Recipients
2007 – James Wilhoit
2008 – Erik Ainge, Jarod Parrish, Casey Woods
2010 – Cody Sullins
2011 – Daniel Lincoln
2013 – Zach Rogers
2014 – Daniel Hood
2016 – Brian Randolph
2017 – Dylan Wiesman
2018 – Parker Henry, Jakob Johnson, Brett Kendrick
2019 – Kyle Phillips
2020 – Riley Lovingood
2021 – Brandon Kennedy
2022 – Matthew Butler
-UT Athletics
