A.J. Butler Class: Senior Hometown: St. Petersburg, Fla. High School: St. Petersburg Catholic HS Height / Weight: 6-1 / 195 Position: Defensive Back Experience: 3L

NEW MEXICO: One of the true "team" players, willing to play offense, defense and special teams to help his squad...played in all 12 games in 2011...started the first three games at strong safety but took on a special teams role in the second half of the year when the coaching staff turned to younger talent in the secondary...a three-year letterman who has shown excellent potential...will have a chance to reclaim playing time this fall...switched to defense during the spring of 2010...led all Lobo RBs in receptions (32) and receiving yards (213) in just 7 games in 2009 and had 102 yards rushing off the bench against Texas Tech...redshirted the 2008 season.

2011 (JUNIOR): Recorded a season-high five tackles in week two at No. 13 Arkansas...had a season-high three unassisted tackles at TCU...contributed two tackles in the season opener against Colorado State...played on multiple special teams during the final six games of the season.

2010 (SOPHOMORE): Battled injuries most of the year but started seven games at safety...played in eight games and finished the year with 50 tackles...ranked fifth on the team in stops and had 28 unassisted tackles...had double-digit tackles at Air Force (10) and at BYU (11)...had two fumble recoveries against Utah on Sept. 18 including one returned for a 27-yard TD...had his lone pass breakup against San Diego State.

2009 (REDSHIRT FRESHMAN): Was one of the most productive players on offense, when healthy...averaged 55.7 yards from scrimmage (390 total) on 82 offensive touches (4.8 yards/touch) in his first 7 collegiate games...177 yards rushing and a TD on 50 carries (3.5 avg.) with a long of 16...also led all RBs with 32 catches for 213 yards (6.7 avg.) with a long of 18...over 100 yards rushing in his only game as the featured back in week 5 at Texas Tech...did not play in the last 5 games (ankle injury/coaches' decision).

`09 HIGHLIGHTS: at Wyoming...Matched his career-high from the previous week with 9 catches for a career-best 59 yards (long of 18)...also added 33 yards rushing on 12 carries for a total 92 scrimmage yards on 21 touches (4.4 avg.)...at Texas Tech...Carried the Lobo ground game with Demond Dennis and James Wright both out with injuries...surpassed his 4-game season totals entering the day with a game-high 102 yards rushing on 26 carries...was the first UNM freshman with 20+ carries since 2002 (DonTrell Moore)...also had a game-high 9 catches - the most by a Lobo RB since 1987 - for 39 yards, giving him 141 yards from scrimmage on 35 touches (4.0 avg.)...helped UNM dominate the time of possession in the first half, rushing for 76 yards on 15 carries...picked up a long of 13 on a 4th-and-1 play at midfield to set up the Lobos' first TD...suffered a costly fumble, however, when the ball was ripped out at the Tech 7 with UNM looking to go up 14-7 in the 2nd quarter...4-yard catch on 4th-and-3 led to his own 1-yard TD run in the 4th quarter...at Texas A&M...Made his collegiate debut in the 3rd quarter and gave the team a nice spark...racked up 53 yards from scrimmage on just 7 touches (7.6 avg.)...3 carries for 22 yards and 4 catches for 31 yards...showed nice vision in the open field.

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2008 graduate of St. Petersburg (Fla.) Catholic High School...honorable mention all-conference running back as a senior, rushing 93 times for 768 yards and 9 TDs...added 319 yards and 6 TDs as receiver...also played linebacker and safety for head coach Todd Creneti.

PERSONAL: Born Nov. 26, 1989, in St. Petersburg, Fla...full name is Alan Joseph Butler...son of Alphonso and Sharon...older brother, Martin Teal, was a wide receiver at Troy, completing his eligibility in 2006...A.J. is interested in Architecture or Engineering at UNM.