Davidson High coach Rick Cauley believes junior running back Derrick “D.J.” Butler can be “exceptional” at the college level.

He’s proven to be just that already on the high school level.

“He’s the best running back I’ve ever coached,” Cauley said of Butler. “I’ve coached some really good guys at other positions, but as far as a natural, pure running back he is probably the best and we’ve had some good ones.

“He is the total package. He is a great receiver out of the backfield. And, when the quarterback’s helmet comes off and he has to come out of the game, Derrick can come in and play quarterback and throw a touchdown pass (as he did against Foley last year).”

RELATED: Baker QB Josh Flowers commits

RELATED: Saraland DL Antonio Coleman receives Bama offer

College recruiters are beginning to take notice of Butler as well. Though he hasn’t shot up many recruiting rankings yet – the 247 composite rankings list him as the No. 61 player in Alabama’s Class of 2024 – offers are starting to build.

SEC schools Ole Miss and Mississippi State offered recently, and Butler is coming off a visit to Starkville this week. He also has offers from Jacksonville State, Liberty, Marshall, Troy and UAB.

Cauley said Alabama hasn’t offered the 6-foot, 190-pound Butler yet, but he is set to visit Tuscaloosa on March 20.

“He’s had a really good offseason,” Cauley said. “He’s a really good kid. He comes to practice and does what he is supposed to do. He is blessed to be a good athlete and a really good running back. Everything comes kind of naturally to him.”

As a junior, Butler was a first team Class 7A All-State selection. He rushed for 1,338 yards and 19 TDs on 184 carries. In a 43-41 loss to Foley, Butler accounted for six touchdowns – four rushing, one receiving and one passing – in what Cauley called the best individual effort he’s seen in his coaching career. He finished the game with 275 yards rushing and 304 yards of total offense.

“He is a taller running back who has a long stride and is deceptively strong,” Cauley said. “He does things that allow him to get subtle separation from a defender and then he just separates from them.”

Cauley said Butler should be able to add some weight in college and maintain his explosiveness.

“Most people thing he can carry 210 points pretty comfortably and not lose anything, he said. “He has exceptional vision and understands the game of football. I don’t think he’ll go somewhere and have a hard time understanding the concepts. I think he will get in the lineup pretty fast.”

Davidson is scheduled to start spring practice May 1 and finish with a spring game at the school’s new on-campus stadium against Greene County on May 19.