Prospect Spotlight: Brooks Butt – Crookston (2022)

Although it was a particularly tough season for the Crookston Pirate football team in 2020, long-time starter, [player_tooltip player_id="116263" first="Brooks" last="Butt"], feels there was a silver lining in the team’s struggle. The team and the soon-to-be senior put down building blocks to help the program and the player in 2021 and beyond. "It was a rough season," Butt admitted. "We lost our quarterback and some other key players, but we fought through it. I feel like we took a lot of huge steps. We played a lot of young guys. Despite the losses, we made huge improvements for the long run." One of those improvements was in the running game. "Our running attack was pretty good," Butt said. "I feel like we were getting up-field with our offensive line to give the running back more time to see gaps. On defense, when we’re playing well, we were flying to the ball." Despite the team’s struggles, the junior put up a solid season. "I trained hard for the season and started well. I had three sacks in my first game. After that, I had a little bit of an injury late in the season, but I fought through that and felt I had a good season." The soon-to-be senior rarely came off the field. "I started the season at nose tackle, and then at halftime of the first game, I got moved out to the three tech spot for most of the year. I did play the five tech spot at the end of the year. On offense, I played right tackle all year." "I think I am best as a three tech," Butt continued. "I played nose tackle most of my life, but I feel like I have room and quick enough feet to run a stunt to get to the outside. Then I can also hold my own on the inside. On offense, I can move my feet and can kick step well in pass pro. I spend a lot of time working on my feet." Butt has been a fixture on the Pirate’s lineup for years. "I have been starting on varsity since eighth grade. This will be my fifth year starting. In eighth grade, I started on the defensive line. Then halfway through the season, I became the starting fullback too." Fullback lasted one season, and then the revolving door of positions started for the young lineman. "In ninth grade, they moved me to offensive line. It was interesting. I was a blocker as a fullback, but I wasn’t used to having someone right in my face. I had to learn how to get my feet under me. The first few weeks, once I would make contact, I would fall to my knees. I needed to learn how to keep my balance. That was the hardest transition." "I have played everywhere on the line except left tackle." Butt told prepredzonemn.com. "I have played right tackle since my sophomore year. But, for the most part, I have played the three tech on defense." Butt is a three-sport athlete. "I play baseball in the spring," the 6’0" 270-pound athlete explained. "I play third, first, and pitcher. I feel like my strengths are hitting and pitching. I am an off-speed guy. I get a lot of fly balls and ground balls. I am not a guy that is going to throw gas. I played basketball this winter. I pride myself on strong legs, so I use my strength to get rebounds and to block shots." Even while playing three sports, Butt always finds time – multiple times – to focus on football. "I work out two times a day. I weightlift in the morning and do speed and agility at night. I put an emphasis on my legs. As a lineman, it is all about your power. I do a lot of squatting to be explosive in my lower body. I do three days legs and two days arms." All his hard work has opened doors to a college football career. "I have enjoyed talking to all the coaches. It is stressful sometimes, but everybody tells me to enjoy it, so I have tried to sit back and enjoy it." Butt is being recruited as a defensive player and has some Division II interest. "I have an offer from Jamestown, and I have started to build a good relationship with the coaches at Northern State." "I feel like they like the way I play the game," Butt continued. "When I play, I want to make sure I am playing fast and violent. I want people to see on my tape how much I love the game, and I will give one hundred percent." He has been giving one hundred percent for Crookston for four years. Expect Butt to give one hundred percent one more season in high school and continue with that effort somewhere at the next level.