RECRUITING: Cheyenne’s Butler to join older brother at South Dakota

Cheyenne senior running back Jordan Butler won’t have just a familiar shoulder to lean on as he transitions to college football.

He’ll have his brother.

Butler gave an oral commitment to South Dakota on Tuesday. He’ll join his older brother, D’Angelo Butler, who will be a third-year sophomore linebacker for the Coyotes next season.

“It’s going to be very exciting,” Jordan Butler said. “I never got to play with him (in high school) because he was older than me. He’s excited for me to play with him also.

“He can show me around, show me stuff, what to do and not to do.”

Jordan Butler was impressed after his official recruiting visit to the Vermillion, S.D., campus the weekend of Dec. 4. The Coyotes were the only school to offer him a scholarship, though he received recent interest from Portland State.

The 5-foot-8-inch, 155-pounder led Cheyenne in rushing (925 yards, five touchdowns) and receiving (24 receptions, 332 yards, six TDs) this season. The Desert Shields finished 5-6 and reached the Class 4A Sunset Region playoffs.

Jordan Butler said South Dakota envisions him playing running back and receiver, and helping in the return game.

The Coyotes rose to the Football Championship Subdivision level in 2008, and went 5-5 this season.

“That’s good,” Jordan Butler said of the program’s ascension. “I just want to be part of that; I want to be part of something big.”

Players are not bound by oral commitments. The first day Butler can sign is Feb. 3.