SEC Football: Every team’s best newcomer for 2020 season

The Tigers have to replace a lot of beef along their defensive line with the departures of first-round pick Derek Brown and second-round pick Marlon Davidson. They found that in the person of Deandre Butler.

Butler comes to Auburn as the highest-rated defensive end from the JUCO ranks. He is the prototypical defensive end fit for what coordinator Kevin Steele wants. At 6-5 and 280 pounds, he has the size to anchor the edge against the run and athleticism to get to the quarterback.

The Georgia native can play anywhere on the defensive line which makes him an every-down defender. He will pair nicely with “Big Cat” Bryant on the opposite end.

Butler was not highly recruited coming out of high school. The only offer he had was from Tennessee Chatanooga. Because of that, he decided to go to Junior College. That turned out to be a great decision.

First, he gained over 50 pounds at Independence Community College. He grew physically and improved his game. That caught the eye of the recruiting department at Auburn. Now, he has an opportunity to contribute at one of the top programs in the SEC.