The senior was injured in the second quarter of the Wolverines' 33-32 loss to Florida State when he was tackled near the sideline on his third reception, and the school later confirmed he would not return to the game. He walked off the field under his own power, but Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh said after the game that he had either injured his MCL or ACL.
The report puts his ability to participate in field work at the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine in doubt. The combine, a gathering of 300-plus draft prospects in Indianapolis that allows NFL clubs to put players through drills, interviews and medical evaluations, is scheduled for Feb. 28-March 6.
Butt (6-feet-6, 250 pounds) caught 46 passes for 546 yards and four touchdowns on the year. One of three primary targets in the UM passing attack for QB Wilton Speight this season, along with WRs Jehu Chesson and Amara Darboh, Butt has been compared to Dallas Cowboys TE Jason Witten. Butt is a natural pass catcher with the potential to be a red-zone threat in the NFL, but needs to improve as an in-line blocker, according to a preseason evaluation by NFL.com analyst Daniel Jeremiah.
Butt won the John Mackey Award earlier this month, which is given to college football's top tight end.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
