BF.C ALL-DECADE TEAM: DE

THIS PLAYER WROTE "FEAR" under his right eye and "ME" under his left eye before dominating the 2008 Sun Bowl...his story is part of 27 articles in 29 days as BF.C unveils its all-decade team.

NOTE: To be eligible for the BF.C All-Decade Team the players must have played at least 50-percent of their careers this decade (2000-2009) at Oregon State. For the all-time letter winners visit OSUBeavers.com.

Discuss our selections on the BF.C message boards with your Beaver brethren. For the released articles so far, click here.

BF.C All-Decade Team
	DE #90 | 6-2, 235	VICTOR STRONG-BUTLER
		Lettered at OSU: 2005-08
		High school: Eisenhower Senior HS | Rialto, CA
Awards/All-conference: 2008 first team All-Pac-10, 2008 Sun Bowl Defensive MVP What others say:  Oregon State head coach Mike Riley - "He's one of those hybrid-type players who can run with people and do some things athletically that you don't think about with defensive linemen. He is truly one of the best examples of development, ever, in our program. Vic is a special guy and a special player. It was fun to watch him grow into the player he is. He was the heart-and-soul guys of our team; a cornerstone." Career synopsis:  At just 235-pounds Victor Butler gave away at least 40 pounds to the offensive lineman he lined up against every week, but it didn't matter as he went on a sack spree his junior and senior years. Butler played as a true freshman and sophomore primarily on special teams before exploding onto the scene as a junior.  With a lightning quick first step and closing speed to boot Butler came off of the bench and led the team with 10.5 sacks in 2007.  As a senior he easily transitioned into an every down player tying the school record for sacks in a year (12) and forced fumbles (4) while setting the school record for tackles for loss (21.5) in a season. Despite starting just 14 games in his career Butler, a co-team captain in 2008, finished his career as the school's second all-time sack leader (25.5) and fourth all-time tackles for loss leader (39.5). One of his more memorable moments came in the 2008 Sun Bowl when he dominated the Panther offense grabbing 11 tackles, including five tackles for loss and four sacks.  His five tackles for loss in a game is the second most in a single game in school history while his four sacks tied a school record. Before the game on his eye black he penned FEAR under his right eye and ME under his left eye - Pittsburgh, and the nation, got the message loud and clear. Career statistics: 118 tackles, 39.5 tackles for loss, 25.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, four pass breakups, one interception

Runner up: Dorian Smith (2006-07) - Another two year player who came into his own as a senior Smith combined quickness with brute upper body strength to get into the backfield.  Smith came off of the bench as a junior grabbing 11.5 tackles for loss before earning a starting role as a senior.  Although he had just 10 career starts Smith, a first team all-conference selection in '07, finished with 15 career sacks, good for seventh all-time at OSU.

Others worth mentioning:  LaDairis Jackson (1999-2000), Slade Norris (2005-08)