Iowa State WR Hakeem Butler announces NFL Draft decision

AMES Iowa State receiver Hakeem Butler joined teammate David Montgomery in declaring for the 2019 NFL Draft on Monday.

Butler broke Iowa State's single-season receiving record with 1,318 yards. He also had nine touchdowns on the season.

Butler led the FBS with 22 yards per reception.

He announced his decision in a tweet Monday night.

'The jersey may change, but I will always bleed cardinal and gold,” Butler wrote.

The redshirt junior made highlight-reel catch after highlight-reel catch in 2018, including being the No. 1 play on ESPN's popular Sunday segment 'You Got Moss'd.”

The 6-foot-6 receiver proved near impossible to cover throughout the year with his height, speed and athletic ability.

In the Alamo Bowl against No. 13 Washington State, Iowa State coach Matt Campbell employed the Montgomery-Butler strategy where if running back Montgomery didn't get the ball, Butler did and if Butler didn't get the ball, Montgomery did.

Washington State knew Butler was going to get the ball, but he still torched the Cougars for 192 yards on nine receptions.

'Our entire program and the Iowa State community is thankful for everything Hakeem Butler accomplished as a Cyclone,” Campbell said in a statement. 'Not only has he cemented his legacy as one of our program's all-time greats, but he is leaving Ames with his degree in hand after just 3.5 years and has made immeasurable impact off the field. We can't wait to see Hakeem continue to achieve success at the next level and will always welcome him back to Cyclone Nation.”

The last Cyclone to be drafted was linebacker Jeremiah George in 2014.

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