We here at Sons of Montezuma are putting into focus our top San Diego State Aztecs football players for you to to know in the upcoming 2025 season. Next up is Safety, Eric Butler Jr.
Name: Eric Butler Jr.
Position: Safety
Class: Senior
Height/Weight: 6’2” / 195 lbs
Hometown: San Diego, California
Previous Schools: Centennial High
When we think of Safeties of Aztecs past, such stand-out names come to mind like Tariq Thompson, Trent Thompson, Kam Kelly, Parker Baldwin, Na’im McGee, Eric Pinkins, and Nat Berhe. All very different in physical performance—but all very hard hitters and opportunistic ballhawks.
Eric Butler Jr. has the chance to elevate his profile among those Aztec Warriors of the past in this his true senior year.
Eric Butler enters the 2025 season as one of San Diego State’s most consistent performers in the secondary. The 6’2″, 195-pound senior from Corona, California, logged 12 appearances with 11 starts at safety in 2024.
He recorded 47 total tackles, including 32 solo stops, and contributed 3 pass breakups, a forced fumble, and a highlight-reel 43-yard interception returned for a touchdown against Wyoming.
His pick-six at Wyoming not only changed the momentum of that contest but also showcased his athleticism and field awareness. A truly consistent performer all season long, that specific week-7 game against Wyoming stood out making him the highest PFF in the group of five at the safety position.
Butler’s primary strength lies in his ability to make game-impacting plays. His tackling has shown to be reliable and he proved to be dependable in run support and short-zone coverage. Butler also earned trust from the coaching staff quickly, turning in a season with nearly full-time snaps as a junior.
He’s a very physically gifted player with long wingspan, wheels in on his closing speed, and an attitude on the field that makes offensive aware of his presence.
The running theme with this defense in 2025 is that they are all back—especially in the defensive backfield. The running theme they must try to put an end to as a unit in 2025 are the low amount of turnovers they forced last year. While Butler was a positive force in making plays last year, the numbers suggest room for improvement in consistently producing turnovers.
Beyond the interception and forced fumble, his pass breakup totals remain modest, hinting that further refinement in play anticipation and ball skills could yield higher turnover output. Additionally, although durable in 2024, continuing to maintain stamina and performance across the full season will be essential.
Butler is expected to continue as a full-time starter and a foundational piece of the Aztecs’ defensive backfield. His dual-threat ability to defend the run and hard hitting pass breakup game will anchor the secondary. If he can build on his knack for timely plays and add consistency in coverage, he has the potential to become one of the Mountain West’s standout safeties.
Elevating San Diego State’s defensive identity under new defensive coordinator Rob Aurich is the goal and this years team is primed to do that. If they can improve from the nation’s 97th scoring defense into the top 75 or even 50, expect Butler to be a playmaker behind that.
Stay tuned as we list more crucial Aztec Warriors that will be looking to make a big impact this 2025 season. The list isn’t in any specific order—but let us know in the comments what you think of each player as the list unfolds.
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