Jan. 12, 2009

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State's record-setting wide receiver, Deon Butler (Woodbridge, Va) has accepted an invitation to play in the 84th East-West Shrine Game on Saturday, January 17.

The contest will be played at the University of Houston's John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium. The game will begin at 4:00 p.m. ET and be televised by ESPN2.

Nittany Lion All-America center A.Q. Shipley (Coraopolis) also was invited to play in the East-West Game, but declined, as he will receive the Rimington Trophy on Saturday in Lincoln, Neb. The Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year, Shipley was announced last month as Penn State's first recipient of the Rimington Trophy, which is presented to the nation's outstanding center.

Former college and NFL head coach Bobby Ross will coach the East squad. Among the other Big Ten players joining Butler in the game are Ohio State offensive lineman Alex Boone, Michigan State quarterback Brian Hoyer, Purdue wideout Greg Orton, Wisconsin defensive lineman Matt Shaughnessy and Northwestern tailback Tyrell Sutton. Missouri's Chase Daniel and Louisville's Hunter Cantwell are the East squad's other quarterbacks.

Butler and other players visited Houston's Shriners Hospital for Children on Sunday. Every year since the game's inception in 1925, the East-West Shrine Game has been played to raise funds for the 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children.

Penn State's career leader with 179 receptions, Butler finished his career leading or among the top 10 in numerous school game, season and career receiving lists:

• Game Receptions (T 2nd, 11 vs. Northwestern, 2006) • Game Receptions by a Penn State Sophomore (1st, 11 vs. Northwestern, 2006) • Season Receptions (T 7th, 48 in 2006; T 10, 47 in 2007 and 2008) • Career Receptions (1sth, 179) • Game Receiving Yardage (1st, 216 vs. Northwestern, 2006) • Game Receiving Yardage by a Penn State Freshman (1st, 125 vs. Wisconsin, 2005) • Season Receiving Yardage by a Penn State Freshman (1st, 691 in 2005) • Career Receiving Yardage (2nd, 2,771) • Season Touchdown Receptions (T 4th, 9 in 2005) • Season Touchdown Receptions by a Penn State Freshman (1st, 9 in 2005) • Career Touchdown Receptions (3rd, 22)

Butler was instrumental in helping Penn State win two Big Ten Championships and BCS berths and produce a 40-11 record the past four years. The former All-Met selection at Hylton High School led Penn State in receptions in three of his four seasons, including 47 catches for 810 yards (17.2) and seven touchdowns this past year.

In his final game in Beaver Stadium, Butler made three receptions for a season-best 133 yards and a career-high three touchdowns in the 49-18 win over Michigan State. Butler, who recorded six career 100-yard receiving games, concluded his career with four catches for a team-high 97 yards vs. USC in the Rose Bowl. He made his team-high 46th career start vs. the Trojans.

A 2008 second team All-Big Ten selection, Butler earned his degree in crime, law and justice in May 2008 and is interested in a career in forensic science.