The Red and Black

Issue date: 3/25/09 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Jason Broom Redshirt sophomore Drew Butler, who only attempted three sky punts last season, will handle all punting duties for Georgia this year. [Click to enlarge]

For two years Drew Butler has competed, watched and waited for his opportunity to become Georgia's starting punter.

With Brian Mimbs graduating, the responsibility of booming kicks is now squarely on Butler in spring practice.

Butler came into fall camp in 2007 and competed with Mimbs as a true freshman but lost out and redshirted. Last season the Duluth native mostly watched from the sidelines, only attempting sky punts on just three occasions.

It's taken time for Butler to assume the go-to duties, but the wait has been beneficial for his progression.

"I think it's just a world of difference," Butler said. "Freshman year I came in and almost started but didn't quite get it. I redshirted and learned a lot that year. I definitely learned a lot from Brian's year last season."

Mimbs may have been the starter for two seasons, but head coach Mark Richt said Butler has a leg up when it comes to kicking mechanics.

"One thing about Butler from the past is he's got a very quick operation time where he'll catch it and get the ball off very quickly," Richt said. "Mimbs wasn't slow by any means, but Butler is a little bit quicker, so that always helps when it comes to making sure your protection's right."

Spring practice has not only been Butler's introduction into the starting lineup, but it's also provided validation.

"I see him kick all the time," said rising sophomore Brandon Boykin. "I'm a gunner, so I mean I've been with him on punt coverage. When I see him, he's kicking it out of the end zone, so most of the time hopefully I won't even have to make a tackle."

Added cornerback and punt returner Prince Miller: "He has a great leg. I guess he's just like any other punter, he booms some and sometimes he might not hit it as good, but overall he's a great kicker."

Individually, Butler is kicking well, but Richt is holding off on grading out his spring performance.

"Well, we really haven't done a lot of drills yet where we're sitting there, putting him under pressure," Richt said. "When we start out on our punt team, we're mainly working hard on protection. We're doing just drills to make sure we're lined properly ... We haven't really put it all together yet, so it's really hard to make an evaluation."

Butler's happy for the opportunity and said he hopes to capitalize on it.

"Brian left some big shoes to fill, but hopefully I can fill them really well," he said.

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