Former Butler Athlete Chris Carson breaks down the field against Ellworth (Iowa) on Nov. 8, 2014. Butler would run away with the 40-28 win on Sophomore night at BG Products Veteran Sports Complex.
Photo by E. Bailey
Charles Chaney
Student Sports Media
Chris Carson was drafted in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL draft on Saturday, April 29. Carson was taken 249th overall by the Seattle Seahawks.
“I was nervous,” Carson said via telephone. “I thought I was going to be a free agent and was already talking to teams, but to go to Seattle is a blessing. To get to do this and coming from Butler means a lot to me.”
Carson, 22, who played for Butler for two seasons, rushed for over 1,600 yards during his two years at Butler, scoring 17 touchdowns.
“His hard work has paid off,” Butler Head Coach Tim Schaffner said.
After a very impressive career at Butler that saw him appear in only 18 games, Carson headed to Oklahoma State where he was the Cowboys’ leading rusher in 2015 and split time last season, being the team’s second leading rusher.
Rated as the fourth best running back coming out of Butler, Carson chose Oklahoma State over a plethora of other Division I programs.
“I think people are going to be pleasantly surprised by Chris,” Schaffner said. “He has a lot of tread left on his tires.”
Carson is now in the long line of Butler players who have gone on to be drafted. He’s the first to be drafted since 2015 when Dexter McDonald was drafted by the Oakland Raiders. McDonald played two years in the NFL after being drafted.
For Carson, the hard part may be just beginning. The Seattle Seahawks are loaded at running back. Heading into their rookie mini-camp, the Seahawks have 10 running backs on the roster. Carson, who is versatile, could find a spot within the special teams in his rookie year.
“This road is tough,” Schaffner said. “If you stick to it, it will pay off.”