The feisty receivers who could be key to Butler football’s continued success after breakout 2025
BUTLER TWP — Butler will be thankful by the end of training camp that Nash Cuffman and Deacon Simko are lining up on the same side of the football field on Friday nights.
Because if the first day of practice Aug. 10 was any indication, the senior receivers can get after it a bit.
“I beat him up today,” Simko said. “We were slap-boxing. … I slapped him right here (side of head) and he got mad.”
Cuffman does not shy away from chirping either, a constant narration running from his mouth during the first practice as receivers worked on routes. Perhaps it’s the gallon bag of Mountain Dew he chugs from Speedway every day that makes head coach Eric Christy’s stomach churn. Or perhaps it’s just an oozing confidence.
Cuffman thinks 10-11 touchdowns is a solid personal goal for himself this season; Butler can go 8-2, an improvement from 7-3 last season; and Christy’s stated team goal of 2,000 passing yards is “doable,” Cuffman said.
“I want to play aggressive and be a leader for everyone,” he said.
Simko is equally confident. He got Cuffman to admit he’s the better cornerback of the two. And Simko, the younger brother of former Butler and North Catholic receiver Preston Simko, didn’t hesitate to call himself faster and conclude “my routes are cleaner” than big bro.
The pair’s confidence and teamwork — they do actually get along — could be a contributing factor in the Golden Tornado’s quest to build off a resurgent 2025 that produced the program’s best record since the 1990s.
“They have a lot of fun, there’s a lot of competition between them and they like to jab each other,” Christy said. “They work for each other, which is good.”
They just have to walk the walk.
Simko led the team last year with 32 receptions, 457 yards and three receiving touchdowns, while Cuffman had 10 grabs, 151 yards and two scores in a run-first offense. Christy believes the unit, with a completely overhauled offensive line, will have to use the pass more to set up the run than in prior years, whether it be from incumbent Nicco Baggetta or emerging challenger Will Dunaway behind center.
Christy praised the receivers’ abilities to run the entire route tree. Cuffman, the coach said, is a natural athlete moving from linebacker to corner this year who also played quarterback on the JV team. Simko has a “natural talent” for doing the “nasty (stuff)” like finishing blocks hard, but also has great hands.
“They can run the screen game, they can block for each other, they can run vertical routes, they can run underneath routes and they’re not scared to go into the dirty work,” Christy said.
And they both like playing for each other. Cuffman, who helped the Butler baseball team win its first WPIAL title in the spring, praised Simko’s performance in a JV game a few years ago when on one play Simko weaved between defenders as Cuffman blocked for one touchdown, and on another Simko snagged a jump ball over Cuffman’s head and scored.
The depth chart at receiver also looks strong, with young guys like Maddox Tack, Mason Bundy, Vance Elliott, Patrick Kisoma and Charlie Rodgers (a likely starting safety) getting tutelage from the two seniors.
And if the new-look offense comes together as everyone hopes, Cuffman and Simko could be in for big seasons.
“We just have to make plays when we get the chances and capitalize on all the opportunities,” Cuffman said.
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Butler's Jake Kollinger, left, Nicco Baggetta, center, and Jordan Vicari, right, hold head coach Eric Christy during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Nicco Baggetta during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Jordan Vicari during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Jake Kollinger during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Nicco Baggetta during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Jake Kollinger during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Butler quarterback Nicco Baggetta (1) talks with a reporter during Butler Eagle Football Media Day on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026, at Butler High School. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Nash Cuffman (15), runs with the football during football practice Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, at Art Bernardi Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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A Butler football coach works on conditioning drills with players during football practice Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, at Art Bernardi Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Wilde Paule runs up the sideline during football practice Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, at Art Bernardi Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Butler quarterback Nicco Baggetta launches a pass during football practice Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, at Art Bernardi Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Butler players work on tackling during football practice Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, at Art Bernardi Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Butler players run through a drill during football practice Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, at Art Bernardi Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Butler's offense lines up for a play during football practice Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, at Art Bernardi Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Butler receiver Charles Rodgers, left, pulls down a one-handed catch while Wilde Paul defends during football practice Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, at Art Bernardi Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Butler's AJ Morris, back, kicks a field goal with Nicco Baggetta, front, holding during football practice Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, at Art Bernardi Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Butler receiver Charles Rodgers, left, pulls down a one-handed catch while Wilde Paul defends during football practice Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, at Art Bernardi Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Butler lineman Jordan Vicari tackles a teammate during football practice Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, at Art Bernardi Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Jake Kollinger, left, catches a pass in front of Mark Walter, right, during football practice Monday, Aug. 10, 2026, at Art Bernardi Stadium. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
