Hakeem Butler-WR-Iowa State

For those folks who want a BIG WR, I offer up this monster, one of the top receivers in the nation this season. 6'6", 220+ pounds, he is a big target down the field and the endzone, has a penchant for getting open in crucial moments, does a great job of using his size and length to box out defenders and has enough speed to be a vertical threat down the field. He's one of those receivers that is open even when he is covered due to his terrific timing and leaping ability. Route running could definitely stand to improve but he's shown progress in that regard over his time at Iowa State, already a much better prospect than Lazard was and he's only been playing football for 5 years total. He's looking like he could go anywhere from the 2nd to 4th rounds if he comes out.

Butler leads the nation with 24 yards per reception and he has nine of the 11 longest plays from an Iowa State player this season, including the longest — an 83-yard touchdown against Kansas. He also has eight touchdowns, just for good measure.
All of that gets more amazing when you remember the 6-foot-6 Butler has only played organized football for five years.

"Hakeem has always been an extremely athletic and gifted athlete," ISU Coach Matt Campbell said. "Even last year, as talented as our receiving corps was, and I think he was bar none, one of the most talented guys that I've ever had the opportunity to coach at the wide receiver position. Where his growth has been phenomenal —— even over the last nine months — is just in terms of what it takes to be an elite level football player. Hakeem has always had a high 'want to.'"
Campbell's challenge to Butler isn't just to make the spectacular play that'll land him on SportsCenter or on "You got Mossed" but to be a consistently good football player who can make the ordinary play all the time.
"Even when you talk from the start of the season to where we're at today, I think (his consistency) has certainly grown," Campbell said. "That's something we'll be able to talk about at the end of this season and ask, 'Man, did you become the best player you can on every rep by the end of the season?' But I think he's certainly growing closer to that even during the season."
What's scary — especially for opposing defenses — is Campbell believes there is another level or two to Butler's game.
"I think you'll only see him get better because he does have that passion to be really, really special," Campbell said. "I haven't seen him settle and say, 'You know, I'm really good.' He's continued to grind away at it. I do appreciate that about him."

https://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/iowa-state-cyclones/hakeem-butler-highlights-iowa-state-receiver-randy-moss-20181109

Allen Lazard had just gotten off a plane Sunday night. He was back in Jacksonville, Florida — and still raving about the big plays Butler and Brock Purdy made in Saturday's victory at Kansas.
"If you haven't seen what he's been doing, then you've been under a rock," Lazard said during our late-night conversation. "He been amazing."
Yes, Lazard saw the acrobatic catch and stiff-arm touchdown play Butler made during the Kansas game. He's seen all Butler's big plays — either when they actually happened, or on someone's highlight tape.
"The stuff he can do — I don't know if anyone in college ball can do that stuff," Lazard said. "He didn't do that stuff when I was there. Either he didn't care to, or maybe I was holding him back."

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/iowa-state/randy-peterson/2018/11/05/college-football-anyone-better-than-hakeem-butler-iowa-state-cyclones-allen-lazard/1889576002/

This is the one

Watching ISU vs Kansas State, Butler is such a freak. Looks like a man amongst boys out there, especially with his ability to track the football deep down the field.

I'm very intrigued to see his combine, wonder how high he flies up draft boards with this WE class not being great, but you're right Phoenix, he's a monster on the field, as of now where would put him in this class ?

Originally posted by jersey49er:
I'm very intrigued to see his combine, wonder how high he flies up draft boards with this WE class not being great, but you're right Phoenix, he's a monster on the field, as of now where would put him in this class ?

Right now I think he's a 2nd to 3rd rounder. He's still fairly raw and won't be able to simply snatch the ball away from NFL CB's in the same way but his combination of size, leaping ability and awareness will always give him an advantage. With a great Combine he could move up quite a bit.

As I praise him he bobbles and drops a deep throw that should have been caught.

Originally posted by Phoenix49ers:

Hahahahahaha

Kid is killing it right now

5 receptions, 144 yards, 1 TD so far.

Passes the eye test ... the film test ... the game test ... the highlight test.



So fun to watch

Originally posted by ChaunceyGardner:

Passes the eye test ... the film test ... the game test ... the highlight test.



So fun to watch

Hands need work. Purdy was throwing high to him all game but he needs to come down with that one in the endzone.


Montgomery on the other hand....dude gives me crazy Arian Foster/Kareem Hunt vibes. He could be an absolute monster and this offense and a nice contrast to McKinnon/Breida.