Tom Gaul, a three-year starting lineman for the Butler High School varsity football team, is continuing his academic and football careers at Washington & Jefferson College.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Gaul recorded six solo tackles, 37 assists, six tackles for loss, two quarterback sacks, one fumble recovery and broke up a pass for the Golden Tornado last season.

"They like his athleticism at defensive end," Butler coach Garry Cathell said. "He played a lot of football for us, too, which weighed in his favor."

W&J was 12-1 last year, reaching the NCAA Division III quarterfinals before losing a 52-16 decision to Mary-Hardin Baylor. The Presidents are 30-3 in two years under coach Mike Sirianni.

W&J had 17 defensive line listed as underclassmen on last year's roster.

"Tom is still growing," Cathell said. "There's no telling how big or strong he's going to get. They'll get some weight on him. … He may wind up inside or at linebacker."

Gaul becomes the third player from Butler's 1-9 squad of a year ago to move on to college football. Josh Wachter is headed to Edinboro University and Adam Pritts is going to Towson State.

Cathell said Jesse Binus and Michael Motko are still weighing their college options.

W&J stands second on the all-time win list in Division III with 617 victories in 113 seasons. The Presidents have won the President's Athletic Conference 18 times in the past 21 years.

The program has been to the Division III playoffs 16 times in the past 19 years - winning the national championship in 1992 and 1994 - and has an .803 winning percentage since 1982.

Gaul is joining four other Butler County products on the W&J roster: quarterback Luke McCaffrey and receiver Mike McCaffrey (Slippery Rock), linebackers Mike Sklarsky (Seneca Valley) and Dan Dallatore (Mars).