But my life changed at Florida State. I was a Prop 48. Coach Bobby Bowden drives into the inner city into the projects. I said ‘Coach, you can’t just drive up in here. You got to ease your way down.’
' I’m telling Miss Butler, I’m giving your baby a scholarship.'
LeRoy Butler
Hall of Fame Speech, 2022
Florida State University
By 1986, LeRoy had become one of the most honored football players in the history on Lee High School. He was named to the Bally and Adidas All-America teams and ranked in Football News’ top 100 recruits.
Butler played under head coach Bobby Bowden at Florida State University. He was a three-year starter, collecting 194 tackles and 9 interceptions.
Bulter became a household name for his role in the punt-rooskie play against Clemson in 1988. FSU was backed up to its own 21-yard line, on fourth down, with a minute and 30 seconds left to play and the score tied at 21. Bowden called the famous trick play, a fake punt. The snap went to upback Dayne Williams and he slipped the ball to Butler, who ran 78 yards to set up the game-winning field goal.
His senior season he moved from free safety to cornerback to replace teammate Deion Sanders. That season he had key interceptions in wins over Miami, Syracuse and Virginia Tech, finishing the year with seven interceptions, which to this day still lists him 4th on the Seminoles’ all-time single season record. He was named an NCAA Consensus All-American and in the summer, LeRoy was named MVP of the Japan Bowl after an interception and 67 yard punt return.
HONORS 1989
Associated Press – 1st Team All-American
Walter Camp – 1st Team All-American
United Press International – 1st Team All-American
The Sporting News – All-American – Honorable Mention
NCAA – Consensus All-American
Elected into the FSU Hall of Fame in 2001