Acquired
James was signed as a free agent by the Tiger-Cats in Feb. 2023.

CAREER

2024: Started eight games at running back…Registered 13 carries for  119 yards with one reception for 12 yards June 7 at Calgary… Named to the CFL Honour Roll, powered by PFF for Week 1 with a 81.2 grade…Posted 11 carries for 50 yards and one touchdown while adding four receptions for 53 yards week 7 vs. Toronto…Posted 21 carries for 98 yards and three receptions for 19 yards week 8 at Edmonton…Posted 12 carries for 69 yards and seven receptions for 41 yards week 9 vs. Montreal.

2023: Signed with Hamilton in February…Made 18 starts…In Ticats debut on Jun. 9, rushed 11 times for 66 yards and one touchdown vs Winnipeg…Recorded 16 carries for 60 yards and a touchdown as well as earning seven receptions for 57 yards week two vs Toronto on Jun. 18/23…Recorded 14 rushes for 127 yards, and one touchdown, averaging 9.1 yards per carry…Also reeled in three catches for 40 yards in week six vs Edmonton Jul 13/23…Recorded nine carries for 51 yards and a touchdown, as well as eight catches for 61 yards in week nine against Montreal on Aug. 5/23…Rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown on 14 attempts, as well as reeling three receptions for 32 yards in week 11 vs Edmonton on Aug. 17/23…Put on an offensive clinic in his return to B.C. rushing 21 times for 118 yards, and a touchdown, as well as recording three receptions for 36 yards and one touchdown in week 12 vs B.C. on Aug. 26/23…Had a busy day on the ground rushing 22 times for 82 yards and one touchdown in week 15 vs Winnipeg…Rushed 14 times for 92 yards as well as reeling in three receptions for 10 yards…Rushed 25 times for 107 yards surpassing 1,000 yards rushing on the season…Also recorded five receptions for 77 yards vs Saskatchewan in week 18 on Oct. 7/23.
Playoffs: Started the Eastern Semi-Final rushing 13 times for 83 yards vs Montreal on Nov. 4/23.

2022: The bruising, dual-threat back raised his game to another level in year two, leading the team with 1,444 combined yards and finishing second to Calgary’s Ka’Deem Carey with 1,060 rushing yards…Butler scored 11 touchdowns (seven rushing, four receiving) and found the end zone four times in the June 25 season-opening win against Edmonton, a pair each on the ground and through the air.
Playoffs: Butler played a big role in the Western Semi-Final victory over Calgary, finishing with 95 rushing yards on 20 carries. Butler also appeared in the West Final against Winnipeg.

2021: Butler suited up in 11 games as the Lions’ feature back and would finish with 497 yards and two touchdowns on 101 carries…The versatile back also added 39 receptions for 243 yards while catching a touchdown pass from Michael Reilly in the season opener in Saskatchewan.

2020: James was signed as a free agent by the B.C. Lions in December 2020.

2019: James attended training camp with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and wound up back on the Oakland Raiders practice squad following his release.

2018: Landed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent and suited up in pre-season before spending the rest of the year on the team’s practice squad.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
First CFL Game – Aug. 6/21, vs Saskatchewan
First CFL Rushing Touchdown – Sept. 18/21, vs Montreal
First CFL Receiving Touchdown – Aug. 6/21, vs Saskatchewan

COLLEGE/PERSONAL
College: In 2017, James transferred to Iowa for his senior season and rushed for 396 yards and a touchdown on 91 carries…In three productive seasons (2014-’16) with the Nevada Wolfpack, James rushed for a total of 3,316 yards and 27 touchdowns while also adding 49 receptions for 438 yards and three majors…He was named Nevada’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2016 and twice earned an All-Mountain West Conference honourable mention.