The Fab Forty, No. 11: Meet Antioch’s Cal-bound star
“They want to stay close to home so the family can watch him play and have his education there at Cal."
Editor’s note: This is part of our monthlong football previews of teams and players.
ANTIOCH — Antioch football coach John Lucido says his senior defensive back Dejuan Butler “eats and sleeps school and football.”
He also must enjoy home cooking.
Butler, who is about 6-foot and 180 pounds, recently committed to Cal after weighing offers from at least 10 schools, including UCLA, with more schools about to enter the mix.
“He loved the staff (at Cal). He’s had good visits with them,” Lucido said. “They want to stay close to home so the family can watch him play and have his education there at Cal, so he’s excited about it.”
In a classy gesture after announcing his choice, Butler tweeted out thanks to his parents and supporters and all the coaching staffs that recruited him and believed in him.
“Cal has been in my family so long,” Butler told BearInsider.com. “My auntie went to Cal and that played a big part in my decision.”
Lucido is excited about what’s in store this season from Butler, who is dedicated in the weight room and the classroom. The Bay Valley Athletic League 100- and 200-meter champ recently ran a hand-timed 4.37 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
“He’s definitely got the speed, and he’s got the size,” Lucido said. “He’s very powerful, strong, so he’s our lockdown guy. We can leave him on an island and take away their best receiver, so it’s a good asset to have.”
Butler reminds Lucido of former Antioch star Isaiah Dunn, a 6-foot, 191-pound junior defensive back at Oregon State. Like Butler, Dunn was ranked among the top 100 DBs in the country while at Antioch.
“He (Butler) started for us as a freshman and Isaiah Dunn was a senior, so seeing those two was kind of like the same player, nice and long and fast and just really good athletes,” Lucido said.
Butler receives top coaching from his dad, Dave, the Panthers’ defensive backs coach. Last season, Butler had 48 tackles, one interception, one tackle for loss and nine passes defended.
“We’ve had some good corners come through and he’s the top,” Lucido said. “He’s really, really good. He’s something special.”
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