ATLANTIC COAST CONFERENCE FOOTBALL KICKOFF

July 23, 2024

Kam Butler

Virginia Cavaliers

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll take questions for Kam.

Q. With so many guys back on the defensive front, what is the expectation for what that group can be this year?

KAM BUTLER: Yeah, I think specifically with the D-line, it's going to be a group that plays with a lot more edge. You saw us two years ago, we had a lot more sacks, disrupting the passer a lot more. I think it led to more turnovers as well.

Going into this season we want to play with more edge, get after the passer, create TFLs, create turnovers and score.

Q. Pretty serious question. How accurate was EA on your stats on the college football game?

KAM BUTLER: I only played three games, so it's fair I guess (smiling).

Q. (No microphone.)

KAM BUTLER: Yeah, the defense is impossible to play right now. They've got to fix the game.

Q. Unfortunately your injury was cut short last year. Talk about the patience and the process of going through all that, what your role became while on the sidelines?

KAM BUTLER: Yeah, I'd say my role pretty much changed completely. I was more so just a guy, instead of playing, I was just kind of like a mini coach, kind of coaching on the side, coaching out the young guys. Even coaching some of the older guys that had to come in and replace me.

I say one thing about that experience. I learned a ton of patience within myself, having more patience with others. It also showed me just how grateful I am, how much I love the game of football.

Coming back was a no-brainer. That injury just left a really bad taste in my mouth. I was off to a pretty good season. I can't wait to just get back to where I was before I got injured this upcoming season.

Q. On your résumé, you are an Academic All ACC. How do you balance athletics and academics? Is there a trick, a secret?

KAM BUTLER: No, my mom used to be on me all the time. She always used to say I wasn't going to play sports unless I had all Bs and As. I've just kind of carried that on with me throughout my college career at Miami University and now at the University of Virginia.

Q. I find you to be a very interesting subject in a lot of ways. Talk a little bit about obviously you've overcome a serious injury, you're getting ready for theoretically your last season in college ball. What are you trying to demonstrate to your teammates in this fall camp? What are your hopes for the first four games of the season?

KAM BUTLER: Yeah, first just to start the season, just go out on a fast start. Obviously I want to start off 4-0, then roll into that bye week, and just carry on the momentum for the rest of the season.

For myself, just as fall camp, I want to show everybody I'm back to my previous self of last year. I think I've already started to do that when I had half of spring ball to kind of show the guys that I'm back. I got a whole summer of weight training underneath my belt. I'm getting back to the same strength, the same conditioning level I was throughout the season.

I just want to show everybody I'm going to be there for them. I know the defense. I'm going to play hard.

Q. This summer working out in the new facility, can you explain what it was like, what you enjoyed about that.

KAM BUTLER: Yeah, it's been great. I think it just feels so much more efficient than working out at McCue, honestly. Going from inside, outside, straight to the locker room, or vice versa. It been great. We got new machines in there. Everything is state-of-the-art. The whole team can fit in there now. Nobody is crammed together.

I think it's going to be super beneficial for not only the ending of my career, but the furthering of UVA football. The next classes that are going to come in, they're all going to see that, use it. I think it's only going to propel this program to a higher level.