Darius Butler life and biography

Darius J. Butler is an American football cornerback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Patriots in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at Connecticut.

Career Transactions
Darius Butler was drafted by the New England Patriots in the second round (41st overall) of the 2009 NFL Draft ... Signed by the Patriots (7/13/09).

2010 (8/2)
* Was inactive against the Steelers (11/14).
* Played briefly on defense and special teams against the Browns (11/7).
* Played mostly on special teams, and filled in briefly for Devin McCourty on defense against the Vikings (10/31).
* Recorded one tackle on defense and played on special teams as well against the Chargers (10/24).
* Played on special teams against Baltimore (10/17).
* Saw time in a reserve role against the Dolphins (10/4).
* Played in a reserve role at cornerback, recording one tackle against Buffalo (9/26).
* Started and registered seven tackles against the Jets (9/19).
* Tallied eight tackles and one pass defensed in a start against the Bengals (9/12)

2009 (14/5, 1/0)
* Played in 14 games with five starting assignments and finished with 33 tackles, three interceptions with one returned for a touchdown, and eight passes defensed. Also returned five kicks for 104 yards, including a 26-yard return at Houston (1/3).
* Started at cornerback vs. Tennessee (10/8), vs. Miami (11/8) and at Miami (12/6) and started when the Patriots opened in a nickel defense at New Orleans (11/30) and at Houston (1/3).
* Intercepted the first two passes of his career in back-to-back games vs. Tennessee (10/8) and at Tampa Bay (10/25) in London's Wembley Stadium.
* Registered his first career interception return for a touchdown when he returned a pick 91 yards for score in the regular-season finale at Houston (1/3). It marked the fourth longest interception return in franchise history.
* In the Patriots' 27-21 win vs. Baltimore (10/4), hit Derrick Mason to break up a pass on third-and-four in the final minute of the game, forcing the Ravens into a last-chance fourth-down try.
* Scooped up his first career interception in the Patriots 59-0 victory vs. Tennessee (10/8), grabbing a Kerry Collins pass, positioning the Patriots for a touchdown drive in the second quarter.
* Played in a reserve role in the Patriots post-season game vs. Baltimore (1/10) and finished with three total tackles and returned four kicks for 72 yards, including a 42-yard return in the third quarter.

College

* A two-year team captain who started all of his 45 career games played at cornerback.
* Earned first-team All-BIG East honors at cornerback during his senior season
* Tallied 180 career tackles (125 solo).
* Grabbed 10 career interceptions with 213 return yards and two touchdowns.
* Returned 35 career kickoffs for 895 yards and one touchdown.
* As a senior in 2008, played in 10 games and had 40 tackles, including three for a loss.
* Earned the team's Kendall Madison Award for being a strong team player.
* Saw his first time on offense as a wide receiver and had nine receptions on the year for 123 yards and one touchdown.
* Earned the offensive game ball in a win over Louisville as he had three receptions for 40 yards and the first touchdown reception of his career.
* Had a touchdown run of 13 yards against Virginia.

Personal

* Darius J. Butler was born on March 18, 1986.
* One of eight siblings.
* The first student-athlete to ever sign a national letter of intent from Coral Springs Charter.
* Listed amongst the top 20 recruits in talent-rich Broward County by the Miami Herald despite not playing football until his junior year.
* Playing quarter-back in an option offense, he both rushed and passed for over 1,000 yards in 2003 while also starting at safety on defense.
* Uncle, Gene Atkins, played in the NFL from 1987-96 with the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins.
* Cousin of Baltimore Ravens running back Willis McGahee, an All-American at Miami in 2002 .
* Majored in sociology at Connecticut.

Extra

* Butler's uncle, Gene Atkins, played in the NFL from 1987-96 with the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins.
* Cousin of Baltimore Ravens running back Willis McGahee, an All-American at Miami in 2002.
* Former NFL standout Deion Sanders sought out Butler during his senior season at UConn to take part in a training camp called "Prime U" to help train for the NFL Combine in Carrolton, Texas.
* Darius has seven siblings.

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