WEST PALM BEACH – Today will mark the end of one chapter and the beginning of another one for Micah Butler.
As one of many success stories to come from Palm Beach Lakes, the running back/athlete can look back to what was a great senior year – for the most part. He can also be optimistic in what is to come for him at Bethune-Cookman.
Butler made his final college choice on May 1.
“It came down to BCU, Alabama A&M, University of Rochester, Alabama State, and FAMU,” said the 5-foot-9, 180-pound athlete, who will be playing college football with fellow former Lakes teammate/linebacker Conroy Cunningham. “But Bethune just seemed like the place to be. I love the atmosphere there. A lot of my family went there. And when Conroy told me he was going and how he felt, it really made me make my decision.”
Palm Beach Lakes head coach Al Shipman was instrumental in Butler’s recruiting process and his ultimate college choice.
“He taught me that it doesn’t matter what the division is,” Butler said. “You can go to school without football, but you can’t play football without going to school. In the long run you go to school to get a degree. Something to fall back on.”
Butler’s senior season at Lakes is a big reason why he’ll be playing college ball at the HBCU institution. In 11 games, he had the following statistics:
•71 carries for 698 yards and 9 touchdowns
•18 catches for 201 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns
•4 kick returns for 167 yards and 1 touchdown on special teams
•1,066 total yards and 15 total touchdowns
Butler’s best individual game came in the first round of the 7A playoffs against East Lake, when he had the following:
•2 carries for 94 yards and 1 touchdown
•2 receptions for 61 yards and 1 touchdown
•16-yard catch on fourth down in final minute of his team’s 32-27 comeback playoff win at home
“We made the most of every opportunity we got,” Butler said. “Our season went pretty good. Even though we didn’t make it to states, we still broke records and made history. It’s not always about the medals and different souvenirs. Sometimes it’s just about the memories and friendships you retain along the way. But to encapsulate this year, it was one to remember.”
Butler (No. 59 overall player; Class of 2020) will be featured alongside his fellow outgoing seniors at Lakes with a virtual graduation ceremony later today. The celebration will be aired at 6:30 p.m. on the following platforms:
•Comcast – Channel 234
•AT&T U-Verse – Channel 99
•CBS – Channel 12.2 (for those without cable and who use an antenna)
“We did it,” Butler said. “I feel like the Class of 2020 is special. We faced adversity. We didn’t have a prom, grad bash, or graduation, but we still finished. We’re determined to do what it takes to get what we want.”
NOTE: You can also view Butler’s graduation and all others from the Class of 2020 on the following platform:
