James Butler (running back)

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James Butler
File:2025, 20, James Butler.jpg
Butler with the BC Lions in 2025
No. 20 – BC Lions
PositionRunning back
Roster statusActive
CFL statusAmerican
Personal information
Born (1995-02-19) February 19, 1995 (age 31)
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High schoolBartlett High
CollegeIowa
Nevada
NFL draft2018: undrafted
Career history
2018Oakland Raiders*
2019Saskatchewan Roughriders*
2019Oakland Raiders*
2020Houston Roughnecks
2021–2022, 2025–presentBC Lions
2023–2024Hamilton Tiger-Cats
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career CFL statistics
Rushing yards3,195
Rushing average4.9
Rushing touchdowns18
Receptions189
Receiving yards1,526
Receiving touchdowns7
Stats at Pro Football ReferenceLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Coaching profile at Pro Football ReferenceLua error in Module:EditAtWikidata at line 29: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Stats at CFL.ca

James Jeremy Butler III (born February 19, 1995) is an American professional football running back for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

College career

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Butler played college football for the Nevada Wolf Pack from 2014 to 2016.[1] He then transferred to the University of Iowa for his senior year where he played for the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2017.[2]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
5 ft 8+3⁄8 in
(1.74 m)		 209 lb
(95 kg)		 29+5⁄8 in
(0.75 m)		 8+3⁄4 in
(0.22 m)		 4.58 s 1.62 s 2.69 s 4.49 s 6.91 s 35.5 in
(0.90 m)		 9 ft 6 in
(2.90 m)		 20 reps
All values from Pro Day[3][4]

Oakland Raiders (first stint)

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While eligible for 2018 NFL draft, Butler was not drafted and did not immediately sign with any National Football League (NFL) team. However, after attending mini-camp with the Oakland Raiders in May 2020, he signed with the team on July 30, 2018.[5] He was released during training camp, but spent the 2018 season on the practice roster.[6] After re-signing with the team in January 2019, he was waived on April 30, 2019.[7]

Saskatchewan Roughriders

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On May 13, 2019, Butler signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.[8] However, he was released at the conclusion of the team's 2019 training camp on June 8, 2019.[9]

Oakland Raiders (second stint)

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On July 28, 2019, Butler re-signed with the Raiders.[6] He spent time on the team's practice roster again and did not dress in a regular season game. He was not re-signed at the end of the season.

Houston Roughnecks

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Butler signed with the Houston Roughnecks on January 19, 2020.[10] He made his professional debut in 2020 with the Roughnecks where he had 46 carries for 221 yards and four touchdowns with another 11 catches for 42 yards and a receiving touchdown. He had his contract terminated when the XFL suspended operations on April 10, 2020.[11]

File:2024, 09, James Butler.jpg
Butler with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2024

BC Lions (first stint)

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With both the CFL and XFL not playing for the rest of 2020, Butler signed a contract with the BC Lions on December 10, 2020.[12] He made his CFL debut in week 1 against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on August 6, 2021, where he had eight rush attempts for 24 yards and four catches for 32 yards and a touchdown. He played in 11 regular season games where he had 101 carries for 497 yards and two touchdowns and 39 receptions for 243 yards and one touchdown.[13]

In Butler's 2022 CFL season debut on June 11, 2022, against the Edmonton Elks, he scored four touchdowns, tying Geroy Simon and seven other BC Lions players for the club record for most touchdowns scored in a game.[14] He played in 17 regular season games where he had 210 carries for 1,060 yards and seven touchdowns along with 53 receptions for 384 yards and four receiving touchdowns. He became a free agent upon the expiry of his contract on February 14, 2023.[15]

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

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On February 15, 2023, it was announced that Butler had signed a two-year contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.[16] In 2023, he played in 17 regular season games where he recorded 235 carries for 1,116 yards with seven touchdowns and 61 receptions for 527 yards with one touchdown.[17] In the 2024 season, he began the season as the starter, but was eventually replaced by Greg Bell. Butler played in 11 regular season games where he had 110 rush attempts for 522 yards and two touchdowns along with 45 receptions for 372 yards and one receiving touchdown.[17] As a pending free agent, he was released early on January 9, 2025.[18]

BC Lions (second stint)

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On January 9, 2025, Butler re-signed with the Lions, immediately following his release from the Tiger-Cats.[19] On September 18, 2025, Butler was placed on the Lions' 1-game injured list. He rejoined the active roster on September 25, 2025.[20]

Personal life

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Butler was born in Chicago, Illinois to parents Cornelia William and James Butler Jr.[2][21]

He also runs a YouTube channel, Kicking It With JB.[22]

References

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  • BC Lions bio
  • Error creating thumbnail: File missing Media related to Lua error in Module:Commons_link at line 62: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). at Wikimedia Commons
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