Matthew Butler DL/EDGE Tennessee | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Matthew Butler DL/EDGE Tennessee
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| SUB-POSITION: NT/DT | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 04/16/2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 5.00 seconds (42%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 24.10 DOB: 06/10/1999 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| NFL Combine & Pro-Day Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SUB-POSITION: NT/DT | |
| Last Updated: 04/16/2022 | |
| Draft Year: 2022 | |
| 40 time: 5.00 seconds (42%*) | |
| Age: 24.10 DOB: 06/10/1999 | |
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| NFL Combine & Pro-Day Results |
| Overall Rating: | 80.8 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Offense player has faced | ||
| Offense Rating: |
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79% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Tackling: |
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76% |
| Pass Rush: |
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78% |
| Run Defense: |
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82% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#136
Position rank:
#25
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| College Games: 45 College Snaps: 1793 | ||
ESPN RATING: 77/100
College Combine Results
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OVR Rank:
#347
Pos Rank:
#61
State Rank:
#23
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 91/100
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RIVALS RATING: 5.7 (93%)
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Drafted: ROUND: 5 - Pick Number: 175 (LV)
Draft Profile: Bio
Matthew Butler was rated as a four-star prospect from Garner Senior High School. He was named to the 2016 North Carolina Associated Press All-State Class 4A Team, starred in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas, and finished with 96 tackles, including 44 TFLs and 26 sacks as a senior. He chose Tennesse over a number of other offers.After saw seeing only limited action as a freshman in 2018 as a sophomore Butler saw action in nine games, and finished with 13 tackles and one tackle for loss.
In 2019 as a junior Butler made a significant impact as he led all Tennessee defensive linemen with 45 tackles while starting four games and appearing in all 13 contests.
2020 saw similar levels of production from Butler as he started all 10 games and posted five or more tackles five times while playing on 499 defensive snaps. He finished the year with 43 tackles, which wed all Vol defensive linemen.
It was in 2021 when Butler broke out and received national attention as he saw action in all 13 games with 12 starts on 726 snaps -most among SEC players. Butler also led all defensive linemen on the squad in tackles (47) and was fourth on the team in tackles for loss (8.5) and third in sacks (5). He also more significantly added 31 total QB pressures and 5 sacks on the season. As a result, he was named a 2021 CoSIDA Second-Team All-American, Selected to play in the 2022 East-West Shrine Game, and was invited to the Combine.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Played with good leverage, even on the nose, despite average bulk. Hustle defender with a good bull rush inside that can close and get home when quarterbacks leave the pocket.
- Has nice size and overall length and decent athletic ability showcased by his 80th percentile for the vertical and 87th for Broad jump
- Has an outstanding bend and nice technique as a pass rusher
- Is explosive off the line of scrimmage and a ferocious one gap penetrator
- Good football IQ - quickly deciphers running lanes and takes outstanding angles to the runner
- Has the long arms required to keep blockers away from his pads and dislodge linemen with rip moves
- Has some skilled pass rush moves - with some useful stunts. Has the acceleration to beat tackles around the edge
- Plays with very good leverage stays low and gets under the blocker pads while maintaining a solid base
- Lower than offensive lineman on every short-yardage play. Good agility and ability to change direction for his size.
- Provides some secondary interior pass rush, getting most penetration when playing three-technique.
- Played with lean and leverage against the run, tough for one man to move (sometimes double-teams, too).
- Delivers a strong punch and uses his hands to shed blocks to make plays in the hole or outside the box
- Highly competitive and fierce, showing relentless effort to the pocket with a nonstop motor
- Usually smooth and coordinated in dun defense - can redirect with ease to track the ball carrier
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- After his initial explosion he is less impressive on secondary moves and can run out of steam
- His frame looks a little unbalanced - has a very strong upper body not matched by a less well developed lower half
- Not as powerful as you would ideally look for in an interior player and can be dominated and driven back by bigger guards
- Misses tackles, even when he gets his hands on the ball carrier. Needs to improve hand placement and technique.
- Sees the ball well but is stuck on blocks when head-up; does not shed to make plays often enough.
- Must improve hand use and read-and-react skills. Lacks the violent hands to shed and can be eliminated by double-team blocks.
- Lacks the speed to turn the corner consistently and is too often washed out by strong-handed blockers.
Scouting Report: Summary
Matthew Butler is a traditional three-technique in a 4-3 defense, he has good overall athletic ability alongside nice quickness - and can provide an excellent interior pass rush as well the ability to shut down the inside lanes in the running game. He however lacks elite lower body strength and can sometimes struggle at the POA which limits his effectiveness.Butler will likely be looked at as a player who will begin his pro career as part of a rotation with the ability to eventually work his way into the starting lineup. The Tennessee product will probably hear his name called anywhere between the fourth and sixth rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Matthew Butler percentiles vs other Defensive Lines (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Matthew Butler (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
112.8
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
23.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.