JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As we walks across the field of the Graveyard, a gold chain hangs around Troy Butler’s neck.
Inside this Viking’s necklace, he carries a reminder of his greatest motivation – a photo of his mother, who passed away in 2023.
“I know my momma looking down at me smiling,” Butler said. “So I got to do what’s right.”
The junior edge rusher has been making waves on social media with his highlight-reel hits for the Vikings, who are currently enjoying their bye week after defeating Lake Mary.
But Butler’s football journey began many years ago.
“My dad. He always made it tough on me. Started when I was like 5 or 6,” Butler recalled.
Now, in his junior year with the Vikings, Butler wants to set the tone. He said that in each practice, he goes as hard as he can to ensure the team is ready for any challenges that may arise down the road.
“I always talk to my grandma,” Butler said. “She be like ‘You got to feed your family. So practice how you play.’”
And that desire to be great extends beyond the white lines of the football field. He said he wants to be a role model for his family.
“Just trying to grind. Trying to keep my grandma happy. Trying to make the family happy because they can’t see me down. If they see me down, they are going to be down,” he explained.
Butler has his eyes set on playing at the next level. As the offers continue to roll in, he said reaching that goal would be life-changing.
“Got two sisters. I have to feed them too, man. They mean the world to me. Got to keep playing with high intensity and everything,” Butler said.
And making those dreams come true means putting in a solid performance in his junior season. Butler said he wants to break the record for most sacks by a Raines defensive lineman.
The Vikings will return to action against Riverside following their bye week, with Butler continuing his pursuit of both personal records and team success, carrying the family’s legacy around his neck every step of the way.