Iowa State wide receiver Hakeem Butler makes NFL decision

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Taylor Shaw/Iowa State Daily

Iowa State wide receiver Hakeem Butler speaks to the crowd at the pep rally on Dec. 27.

Trevor Holbrook

Redshirt junior wide receiver Hakeem Butler declared for the NFL Draft. Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register first reported on the decision, and Butler officially announced the decision on Twitter.

Butler catapulted himself into the NFL conversation after a breakout redshirt junior season, featuring multiple circus catches.

Before the 2018 season, Butler had a limited role in the Cyclone offense. With athletes like Allen Lazard and Marchie Murdock in the mix, Butler grabbed 50 passes for 831 yards in his first two seasons off his redshirt season.

In 2018, Butler shouldered a bigger piece of the offense, snaring 60 passes for 1,318 yards (22.0 average per catch) with nine touchdowns.

If Butler is selected, he’d be the first Cyclone wide receiver drafted since Tracy Henderson in 1985 by the New York Giants (fifth round, 132nd overall).

Butler is listed as the No. 58 overall draft prospect and the No. 7 wide receiver, according to CBSSports.com.