Home Grown Talent Playing At Butler
One nice thing about the chaotic sports scene since the COVID-19 Outbreak is that the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference is playing regular-season football games this spring.
So as a scout focusing on Kansas athletes, I took advantage of the situation and scouted the Hutchinson and Butler contest played on April 3.
Butler had 39 athletes from Kansas on its active roster. The Grizzlies fell to the No. 1 ranked JUCO team in the nation 41-10.
Here is a look at a handful of Butler sophomores who will be looking to transfer to four-year programs at the conclusion of the 2021 spring season, or is it the 2020 not-so fall season?
OL, Nicholas Lowe, 6’3”, 298, (Kapaun Mt. Carmel) – Butler’s strength is on the offensive line. Lowe, a sophomore guard, impressed me the most in this game. He is a strong, quick guard, who can pull and serve as a lead blocker in the run game. The line as a whole is best at pass blocking and did rack up 274 in the passing game against Hutch without allowing a sack. Division I and Division II coaches should watch Lowe’s film or attend a spring game. There were coaches from MIAA programs at the April 3 contest.
OL, JJ Crawford, 6’6”, 315, (Goddard) – Crawford is another home-grown monster on the Butler offensive line. Crawford plays tackle and has really nice footwork. His upper body strength is impressive and he has a very high ceiling protecting quarterbacks and blocking for ball carriers. Like Lowe is a Division I prospect in the making.
WR, Darius Lassiter, 6’2”, 195, (Free State) – Lassiter scored Butler’s lone touchdown and now has one in each of the first two games of the season. The former Free State Thunderbird has six catches for 109 yards in two contests. He is a solid route runner with a pair of good hands. Look for him to get a shot to continue his career after completing two seasons with the Grizzlies.
LB, Malik Berry, 6’3”, 225, (Free State) – Berry is a hard-nosed, fast linebacker. He finished with nine tackles against the Hutch offense. He had half a sack and a tackle for loss in Butler’s season opener against Coffeyville. Berry is strong enough to fight off blockers and fast enough to catch runners on the edge.
WR, Trey Echols, 6’1”, 160, (Shawnee Mission East) – The Butler staff is high hopes for this young man and he looks likes he could be an FCS prospect. Butler’s offense has started slow in their first two games, but Echols has contributed late in games with four catches for 50 yards in the two conference games. He is a quick receiver who is not afraid to run routes over the middle.
