Signee Q and A: Treyjohn Butler

Four-star California defensive back Treyjohn Butler committed to Stanford over summer following a recruitment that included offers from the likes of Cal, Washington, Northwestern and Arizona State and multiple unofficial visits.

Cardinal Sports Report caught up with the Etiwanda High School standout to reflect on Butler's extensive recruiting process; he received substantial college interest as far back as his sophomore year of high school.

Butler: It was very motivating. You choose your school and you're still being recruited by other schools. It's kind of like, to be able to put up with them, just as a whole. And also testing your character because once you commit to a school are you staying true to your commitment or are you leaning away? That was the process of dealing with that in the first semester.

Going into the second semester and being a month away from Signing Day, there was anxiety in a way. The anticipation leading up to it was crazy. You don't know what the moment is going to feel like. You don't know how you're going to feel when you sign that dotted line. And to finally sign on the line and know that it's official and to be a part of something much bigger than myself and knowing that's where my future is heading, it was a really big sigh of relief and weight off my shoulders. And it was a really big (source) of joy among my family. To see it in their eyes to know that it's done and that we're here, it was a really great feeling.

Butler: I actually enjoyed the alumni of the schools that were (recruiting) me. Their comments and their way of trying to get you to go to their school was priceless. They would say anything, by all means... That was probably the most enjoyable part, entertainment-wise.

Also interacting with coaches. I got a chance to meet a lot of great men and a lot of great character. You know they're men of great character due to the fact that despite whatever school you chose, they're wiling to have a conversation with you about life and see how you're doing and hoping all is well and not personalize it about not going to their school. Taking the opportunity and enjoying the fact that they get to meet different young men every day and have a positive impact on their life.

Butler: My runner-up, I was torn between Northwestern and Cal. I wasn't sure which direction I wanted to head. I would say Cal more or less because (it was the program) I was more familiar with and the area I was more used to. So I do say Cal was my second choice.

Butler: The funniest recruiting pitch - I'd have to go with Northwestern. It's Chicago, it's by the lake, the temperature. And I believe the very first thing they ever told me, immediately as soon as I called the head coach, it was, 'It's not that cold. I promise.' And I just started laughing, because I was like, that's one way to start off a conversation. I was like OK, it's not that cold, I believe you. He was like I promise, if it's that cold we can get a jacket, prepare for it... go into the football complex.

That was the very first time I'd ever been told about the weather so fast and so immediately within a conversation.

Butler: The most memorable recruiting pitch I got was from Coach Alamar from Stanford. And it was the look in his eyes as he was talking to me. You deal with all kinds of coaches... Coach Alamar, it was a seriousness. He looked at me and said, 'Son, I know you love your family.' He said, 'The way you look at your mom, I know you love your mom, too.'

And he talked about having the opportunity to change our life in a way that I couldn't even imagine. And if you know me... to hear those words and to know what my mom has dealt with, it touched me deep. Deeper than I've ever been touched before by any other coach.

Then, at that moment was where it was like Stanford was put in a separate category for me and the way I viewed them because it wasn't just about creating a fairy tale... It was about being real and speaking man to a young man about life. For me, that was a really big thing. It was like OK, wow, you open your eyes up and to hear that kind of conversation with a coach like of that high status, it changed my whole perspective in the whole recruiting process and everything.

Butler: I'm trying to think, because a lot of kids ask me what to do. I truly do just say, 'Have fun.' Yeah, you do all of the things you need to do - put the hard work in on and off the field, in the classroom, the extra time training, trying to get better. And if you're having fun doing it, the rest will take care of itself. I'm a spiritual man and I give all the glory... I do things for God first.

I look back now, all I would say is continue to have fun, like the way I did it. When you have fun everything falls into place and it just lines up. And never miss out on an opportunity. When you have an opportunity, be thankful that you have it because others may not and take full advantage of it.

Butler: Yes, I did. And that actually played a factor in my decision. Not every school, but a majority of the schools I dealt with, Stanford came up in the conversation... I would be like, OK - I didn't feel the need to put down other schools because no school is (perfect). We're looking for a school for our best fit that we feel will be best for ourselves. To try to compare apples and oranges and bananas and lemons, all these different sorts of fruits... Schools put Stanford down, it was kind of a turn off. It was like, why do you feel threatened in a way to have to put the school down? Stanford never talked about anybody else. That was an interesting part in my recruitment.

Butler: I can truly say social media made it tough. There were a lot of coaches and a lot of assistants for each university and everybody was trying to talk to me. And social media made it really hard. You're trying to do your homework or just trying to relax, or you just got done training or spending time with family - living your life. But social media has made it really hard with the texting and stuff like that. I do appreciate that some coaches were very considerate - if you went out of your way and told them how you felt they would respect it and it they wouldn't blow your phone up all the time.

But the random messages you get at 2 a.m or 3 a.m. from coaches on the East Coast that are three hours ahead - I didn't appreciate those too much. I had to make sure my phone was turned off a lot. That was probably the roughest part.

Butler: I'm kind of torn right now because my second visit to Cal, it was being presented with all the stuff that once you get up there (you receive). The way they did it, it was right there on the stadium with the view of the bay. The hype in the moment of seeing all the stuff and putting a jersey on, it was a crazy moment.

But also torn between at Stanford, it wouldn't seem be seen as a crazy moment to everybody else. Being around the players and seeing how they conducted themselves an how quick their minds were on reset. They played in the Rose Bowl game, but they were already into next season. It started already. That was my crazy moment. Everybody else was all hyped up about the Rose Bowl game - everybody else was still on that high, the recruits, the parents. Everybody was on that high. For them it was already over. To see that, I was like, 'Woah.' That's how you know the seriousness. That's how you know it's the true next level.

I'm going to go with the Cal moment, though, because that was a pretty crazy moment. I'm not from the area, so I didn't know what the Golden Gate Bridge looked like, I was mind blown to see the whole picture from the stadium - like wow, you all see this every day.