Butler has come along way since his first days as a Husky back in the fall
of 2000, when he reported to camp out of shape and buried deep on the
depth-chart behind a wealth of experienced monster linemen.
Last year as a red-shirt freshman, Butler was forced into duty when starting
weak guard Nick Newton hurt his ankle against Oregon State and was ruled out
for the Apple Cup game. Butler, who had been working out as a strong guard
all season, got the news and spent the week with offensive line coach Brent
Myers learning the weak guard position.
Leading up to the game, the butterflies started fluttering in Butler's
stomach. Nevertheless, he started the game, and not only did he start, he
flourished. By game's end, the butterflies quieted down and Butler was
named the team's Most Valuable Player of the game in Washington's 26-14
victory.
Butler returned to strong guard during spring practices and, according to
Myers, did a terrific job. But as the offensive line coach began evaluating
his front five for 2002, he saw a pressing need at the strong tackle
position, which was at the time being held down by Andre Reeves (who has
since quit the team) and red-shirt freshman Robin Meadow. So Myers moved
Newton to the tackle spot, one which he had occupied earlier in his Husky
career. To fill the gap left by Newton at weak guard, Myers turned to
Butler.
"I moved Butler to weak guard in replacement of Nick Newton because Aaron
was always a solid backup a year ago," said Myers. "I have a lot of
confidence in him in that regard. I felt that he was in the top five
players on the offensive line. It was a natural move for me."
Now penciled in as a starter as the season-opener rapidly approaches, Butler
says that his approach to the season has changed from how it was as a
reserve.
"I have more focus now," said Butler after a recent practice. "I pay more
attention to the scheme of things as far as the offense goes and how the
defenses line up. I pay more attention to how they blitz or stunt and
everything else they could possibly throw at us. I'm looking at the game
more seriously now."
One person who Butler could turn to for advice is the young man who plays
right next to him, Khalif Barnes, the red-shirt sophomore who was in a
similar position a season ago. Barnes red-shirted in 2000 as a freshman,
and after a monster spring was asked to come in and start immediately in
2001 at the toughest position on the offensive line, weak tackle. Barnes
had his rough moments, but he learned as he went and improved over the
course of the season. Barnes knows that Butler is capable of the same
thing.
"Aaron is a good ace guy," Barnes said. "He's a great guy to run-block
with. He has a great base and is real strong in the squats with a mark of
over 600 pounds. He is going to be a real good offensive guard. I think he
learns fast, he's going to know the offense well, and from now until
Michigan he's going to be ready. I believe that, and I'm going to get him
to believe that since he's going to be working with me."
Butler is pleased to have made it into the starting rotation, and credits
his rise to the top on his hard work during practices.
"It all just comes down to doing the little things in practice that impress
the coaches," he said, "just being where you need to be before everybody
else, doing what you're supposed to do with as much intensity as you can.
Those things just add up in the coaches views and I think that's how I got
to where I am right now."
Being where he is at isn't a bad place, but with his new role comes plenty
of pressure to play well and perform at a high level. Butler understands
that, and feels confident that he'll be able to live up to his potential.
"Coming off just starting one game last year to being penciled in as the
starter this year, there are a lot of expectations that need to be met and a
lot of challenges that need to be conquered from my part," he said. "I
feel, for the most part, that I'm developing real nicely. There are still
some fundamental things that I need to work on, but right now I feel real
good."
As a starter for one of the top programs in the Pacific-10 Conference, how
couldn't he feel good.
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