Northern Illinois LB Devon Butler Granted Release From Program

Northern Illinois junior linebacker Devon Butler was granted his release from the school's football program on Wednesday, as Scott Powers of ESPN Chicago reports. The news comes after Butler's second off-campus incident in past two years, as Powers explains:

Butler was shot in the back at an off-campus apartment in April 2011 and sat out last season. He was then stabbed in the chest at a party on Sunday and was reported to have practiced with the team on Monday.

According to Powers, the school says that no single incident caused the team to release Butler from his scholarship. Here's Huskies head coach Dave Doeren on the situation:

Devon has not lived up to the standards we set for members of the Northern Illinois football team. At this time, we feel it is in the best interest of both Devon and of our football program for him to make a fresh start at another institution.

Other than that comment, it's not entirely clear why Butler was released from the program. For now, the team will have to search for added help at linebacker.

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