Four years ago, Malcolm Butler was a part-time employee at Popeyes. After his game-clinching interception Sunday night, he became a Super Bowl hero.
Butler signed with the New England Patriots in May as an undrafted rookie out of the University of West Alabama, and was considered a long shot to make the team. According to MMQB's Peter King, Butler earned the nickname "Scrap" in minicamp for his scrappy play and became a favorite among the coaches.
"Malcolm was part of what we like to call 'the few, the proud, the free,' that did a great job in our rookie minicamp," head coach Bill Belichick said following the Patriots' 28-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX. "We kind of created a roster spot for him by juggling some other guys around, and so we signed him. That's a pretty big jump from West Alabama to the NFL."
Butler's college career actually started at Hinds Community College, near his hometown of Vicksburg, Miss., but he was dismissed five games into his freshman season. He then took a job at Popeyes, not knowing if he would get a second chance to pursue his dream.
"We were probably really lucky that he only had that one year on film, because who knows if we would've had an opportunity to get him if he had the full two years there?" West Alabama receivers coach and director of football operations Michael McCarty told Tom Pelissero of USA TODAY Sports.
Butler was a first-team All-GSC selection as a junior and senior at West Alabama. He led the GSC with 18 passes defensed in 2013.
"I certainly can see why he has persevered through all that and become the player he is," McCarthy said. "From the time I saw him on our campus, it was nothing but hard work. He was a vocal leader. He's also a leader by example and a great competitor on the practice field."
Now he's off to Disneyland, where he'll receive a hero's welcome.
"I always said that I could play in this league," Butler said. "It doesn't matter where you come from. It's what you do when you get here."
