Malcolm Butler - no longer a dark horse to make Patriots roster

Eric Frenz, Boston.com:

Pardon the "come out of nowhere" cliché, but in a league full of SEC standouts and ACC record-holders, a player from the Gulf South Conference is obviously facing an uphill climb.

"It just made me have a chip on my shoulder," he said after practice on Tuesday. "I know guys were getting looks before me and things like that, but you know, it turned out well, so I have no reason to complain about that. It's been a tough journey, coming from Division II, you know. They don't get too much publicity, but I'm just glad I'm here now."

Malcolm Butler has plenty of company in being from a relatively unknown school. Former Patriots RB Danny Woodhead is from Chadron State. Ravens WR Jacoby Jones is from Lane College which is in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Enrollment is 1,213. Dolphins CB Brent Grimes is from Shippensburg University, and the most clutch kicker in NFL history, Adam Vinatieri is from South Dakota State.

Gil Brandt, former Vice President of player personnel for the Dallas Cowboys and noted draft genius, discovered DE Dave Kraayeveld from Milton College in Wisconsin. This college closed in 1982 due to decreasing enrollment, and $4 million in debt to the university system. There were 135 students who needed to find another college or university to attend.

There was one other player who attended Milton College. That would QB Dave Krieg. He rose from seventh string QB to one of the top NFL passes of all-time. He is in the top 10 in: attempts, completions, touchdowns, and has 38, 147 yards passing.

Malcolm Butler should listen to CB Darrelle Revis. "Revis, he just be like, 'Man, just play ball, man. You've been doing this for a long time, just correct the mental problems,'" Butler said.

A solid defensive effort in the first preseason game against the Washington Redskins opened some eyes. An interception off QB Tom Brady in practice while covering WR Kenbrell Thompkins has the coaches taking notice. They don't check the chart to see what college you came from. Do you think head coach Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers cares that QB Aaron Rodgers once attended Butte Community College? If Malcolm keeps doing what he is doing, he'll be on the same team as Revis, Browner, Arrington, Dennard and Ryan.

Paul Murphy is a freelance writer from New Hampshire.

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