14 Grizzlies Sign With 4-Year Programs on Early Signing Day

EL DORADO, Kan. – 14 student-athletes from the 2023 Butler football squad signed National Letters of Intent on Wednesday to enroll and play at four-year universities for the upcoming 2024 season.

All 14 signees will play at NCAA Division 1 universities, with nine at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level and five at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level.

The December signing period for football runs from December 20th through December 22nd and is considered the "Early Signing Period". The "regular" signing period opens on Feb. 7th and runs through April 1. Butler student-athletes that sign at later dates will be announced once the signings are official.

"I am super proud of our guys that signed today," said Butler head coach Brice Vignery. "It's just the beginning for them and their journeys. Always a joy as a coach to see your players succeed."

Butler's signees that are moving on hail from eight different states as well as one from Canada in tight end Dante Daniels. Daniels and defensive tackle Malcolm-Alcorn Crowder are the two Grizzlies to sign with "Power 5" universities as Daniels will play for North Carolina State in the ACC and Alcorn-Crowder will travel up the road to play for Kansas State in the Big 12.

The lone Kansas native to sign in the early period so far is Clay Center native, offensive lineman Kale Hauserman. Hauserman will head to Smithfield, Rhode Island, to play for Bryant University who is set to join the Coastal Athletic Association Football Conference (CAA Football) in 2024.

There are four Texas natives that signed, the most from any state. Linebacker Udoka Ezeani, defensive back Ashton Levells, quarterback Tanner Murray and running back KJ Shankle all inked on Wednesday. Shankle is the only Lone Star State native to return to Texas as he will play at Texas A&M-Commerce. Commerce is a familiar place for Shankle and the Grizzlies as Butler played at A&M-Commerce's Memorial Stadium a season ago, winning the CHAMPS Heart of Texas Bowl 28-24 over Kilgore.

Butler's two NJCAA All-Americans, defensive end Marlin Dean and offensive tackle Issiah Walker, both signed on Wednesday. Dean, originally a University of Georgia transfer, is now a Utah State Aggie after registering 7.5 sacks this season. Walker signed with the Texas State Bobcats who will play in a bowl game for the first time ever this season, finishing 7-5 in 2023 competing in the Sun Belt Conference.

Defensive back Armahn Hale will be returning to his home state of Ohio as the Akron native signed on with the Kent State Golden Flashes.

Quarterback Tanner Murray signed with the Southeastern Louisiana (SLU) Lions who compete in the Southland Conference in the FCS. Murray was a second team All-KJCCC honoree this season.

Kaden White, a defensive back for the Grizzlies, signed with the Towson Tigers. White's position coach and defensive coordinator is former Grizzly Darian Dulin. Dulin was an academic All-American for Butler in 1994 as a linebacker. Dulin later coached for the Grizzlies in the 2004-05 season, serving as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. He helped lead Butler to an NJCAA title game appearance, Region VI title and Jayhawk Conference championship that year.

The complete list of signees is below. Stay tuned to ButlerGrizzlies.com or @ButlerGrizzlies on Twitter (X) for all the latest news.

List of Butler Early Signees (Alphabetical Order)