Steward Butler Sr., a legendary Dreadnaught and American football player from Lakeland, Florida, has tragically passed away at the age of 33. Lakeland Dreadnaught Football, known as a national powerhouse, mourns his loss with deep sadness.
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Since 1976, Coach Bill Castle has led the team, and the Dreadnaught Family of Lakeland, Florida, extended their heartfelt condolences to the family of Steward Butler, honoring his legacy as a Dreadnaught legend.
Though Butler had only started one game in the previous three seasons, he began his senior year as the 13th-best rusher in the history of the Herd. Throughout his career, he recorded seven games with over 100 rushing yards, including a standout performance of 233 yards in a 2014 overtime loss to Western Kentucky, when regular starter Devon Johnson was limited by injury.
Butler’s breakaway speed gave the Herd 21 carries of 20 yards or more, highlighted by his 83-yard touchdown run against Southern Mississippi in 2014. He remains the only player in Herd history with two rushes of 72 yards or more, both resulting in touchdowns.
Butler surpassed Erik Thomas’ school record for yards per carry, achieving a career average of 7.0 yards per carry, second only to Devon Johnson’s 8.0 yards per carry among senior players.
In the 2014 season, Butler was the Herd’s second-leading rusher, amassing 798 yards on 107 attempts, with only six yards lost. His 15.4 yards per carry ranked 15th in the nation, and his seven additional touchdowns brought his career total to 18, placing him among the top scorers in Marshall’s history.