Georgia Tech Football Countdown to Kickoff: A look back at #87 K Harrison Butker

The Georgia Tech football countdown to kickoff resumes with 87 days to go till toe meets leather and with that we look back at a player very familiar with the literal meaning of that popular phrase.

Harrison Butker’s career at Georgia Tech was one of many ups-and-downs and twist and turns. The Decatur, Georgia natives’ career on The Flats wasn’t always pretty and at one point, no one would’ve imagined that he would later become one of the NFL’s best kickers.

A four-year starter for Georgia Tech, Butker appeared in 52 games over four seasons for the Yellow Jackets. From the start, Butker was always consistent on extra-points. In fact, through his four years, he only ever missed two extra points, going 208-for-210 in his career.  That being said, when it came to his abilities from beyond that of an extra point, he was shaky to start to say the least.

In 2013, his freshman season, Butker went a respectable 10-for-14. He had some quality kicks and he had some questionable misses but for a true freshman, you really couldn’t dog him too much for his overall season. However, his sophomore season certainly didn’t see an uptick as some would’ve like to see as he went 11-for-18 in 2014. That being said, despite having his worse season in 2014, Butker would also make the biggest kick of his career against Georgia.

Perhaps, he would have a big offseason and see a good year in 2015, his junior season? Nope. In fact, Butker had his second worse field goal percentage (only on 11 opportunities). He went 7-for-11 that season. For those keeping count, through his first three seasons, Butker was just 28-for-43 in his first three seasons on The Flats.

That brings us to his senior season, a season that nobody saw coming and a season that would propel his career and allow him to become one of the NFL’s best. After having a career field goal percentage of 65% entering his senior season, Butker put together one of the best kicking seasons in Tech history, going 15-for-17.

Following his phenomenal senior season, Butker would go onto be an undrafted free agent and signed by the Carolina Panthers. He would get cut late in training camp by the Panthers but would catch on with the Kansas City Chiefs just a few weeks later. Since being signed by the Chiefs, he’s made 62-of-69 career field goal attempts including a career long 54-yard field goal. Butker is set to return to Kansas City for his third season in the NFL this upcoming season.