Members of the Football Team Volunteer at Special Olympics PA Bowling
Punter Alex Butterworth saw action in three games last season, delivering eight punts for a 38.5-yard average. Butterworth and Matt Marcincin will compete for the starting assignment in preseason camp. A first-team all-state kicker at Heritage Christian High School, Butterworth and placekicker Sam Ficken are returning Nittany Lions from Indiana.
2011 Sophomore Season
Butterworth saw action in three games, punting eight times for a 38.5-yard average. In the season-opener with Indiana State, he placed two kicks inside the 20-yard line. Butterworth split punting duties with Anthony Fera against Alabama, averaging nearly 40 yards per kick, with a long of 45. He also saw action in the road matchup at Northwestern, averaging 38 yards on two punts, with one kick good for 54 yards and landing inside the 20.
2010 Freshman Season
Butterworth was pressed into punting duties for the final three games of the season after Anthony Fera underwent an appendectomy three days prior to the Indiana game. One of seven true freshmen to play in 2010, Butterworth punted 12 times for a 38.1-yard average, with three kicks inside the 20 and three fair catches. He made his Penn State debut in the win over the Hoosiers, punting twice for a 41.0 average, with one punt downed inside the Indiana 15-yard line. He punted six times for a 34.5 average against Michigan State, with one kick landing inside the 20. Butterworth punted four times for a 42.0 average against Florida in the Outback Bowl, with a season-best 50-yard effort.
High School
Butterworth was selected the 2009 Associated Press first-team all-state kicker, playing for Coach Ron Qualls at Heritage Christian HS in Indianapolis. He was named the Indianapolis Star Mr. Football Kicking Specialist for Indiana in 2009 and was the first-team all-city kicker as a sophomore, junior and senior. He was 7-of-10 on field goal attempts as a senior, with no misses under 50 yards. His longest field goal was 52 yards. He also averaged 65.5 yards per kickoff and 38.3 per punt, with a long of 64 yards. Butterworth also played basketball (three seasons) and track (two seasons).
Personal
Full name is John Alexander Butterworth. The son of John and Jennifer Butterworth, he has two brothers, Drew and Kyle. His grandfather, Duff McKenzie, played baseball at Purdue (1956-60) and an uncle, John McKenzie, played football for the Boilermakers (1980-84). In his spare time, Butterworth enjoys drawing and playing the drums. He is undecided on a major. Born July 12, 1991 in Indianapolis, Ind.
