Butcher ending UT football career with medical exemption

University of Tennessee redshirt freshman Andrew Butcher is ending his college football career and taking a medical exemption.

The defensive lineman made the announcement on Twitter Monday night.

“After 2 years with this amazing program, today, I have taken a medical exemption that ends my football career at UT. I have had 4 surgeries, 2 major on the same knee. It is in my best interest and UT’s to take this option,” Butcher wrote. “UT will stand behind me, and I will get my degree from this great University. Thank you to all those who followed my career, and am sorry it did not turn out like I had hoped when I got here. I will always cherish my time being a part of this program.”

Butcher redshirted his true freshman season in 2015 after undergoing knee surgery before the season. The Georgia native did not appear in any games this season.

Butcher was a three-star Under Amour All-American coming out of Alpharetta High. He compiled 167 career tackles and 23.5 sacks in his high school career.

Butcher leaving opens a scholarship on the UT roster.

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