Barring a monumental turn of events during the next few days, North Pike defensive end Vernon Butler is expected to honor his verbal commitment and sign his National Letter of Intent on Feb. 1 with Louisiana Tech.
Butler, who committed to Louisiana Tech on Jan. 8, cancelled an official visit this weekend to Louisiana-Lafayette.
“It would have to be something big to change my mind by Wednesday … something dramatic. I don’t even know,” Butler said. “My mind is pretty much made up. I don’t think anything can really change my mind.”
There was some speculation Southern Miss could be a late player to court Butler. The 6-foot-4-inch, 285-pound lineman took his official visit to Hattiesburg last weekend, but said it didn’t compare to the relationships he built at Louisiana Tech.
“(USM) treated me right. It was a good experience and environment,” Butler said of his visit. “I’m still going to be a Bulldog, most likely. That’s what was going through my head when I left. I liked them but I didn’t have the feel like I had a feel for with my coaches at Louisiana Tech.”
Butler plans to join North Pike teammate Tra’vez Taylor in Ruston next fall.
Taylor, who will play defensive back in college, also committed alongside Butler on Jan. 8.
The two had hoped a third teammate, A.J. Jefferson, would follow them to Louisiana Tech, but Jefferson decided to stay in-state when he committed to Mississippi State last weekend.
“It was his decision and I couldn’t be mad at him or nothing like that,” said Butler, who noted Jefferson texted him Saturday night to inform him of the decision. “I knew that Louisiana Tech, Ole Miss and Mississippi State were his final three. But I had no idea that he would commit to Mississippi State. That kind of caught me by surprise.”
