Badin’s single season rushing leader has found his new home at the collegiate level. Senior running back Alex DeLong announced via Twitter on Monday night that he will be playing football at Butler University.

This desire to play college football has been years in the making. Since sophomore year to be exact.

DeLong said, “Ever since sophomore year, I fell in love with the game. Playing the last half of the year on varsity really made me want to pursue playing at the next level.”

Sophomore year was where the dream began, but wouldn’t have been fulfilled without the stellar senior season he had, which included 19 total touchdowns, 1667 total yards and nominations to All-Ohio and All-District teams. The running back was also recently named Cincinnati Offensive Player of the Year in Division III, according to Cincinnati.com

DeLong said, “It was very important (to have a good senior year) because with my size, I was a very underestimated player, so I had to prove myself with my stats and film.”

There were plenty of schools besides Butler in the running for DeLong, including Marian, Valparaiso and Dayton. DeLong said the hardest part of this journey was, “making a decision between a lot of great schools and football programs.”

However, after a lot of deliberation, DeLong decided Butler University, located in northern Indianapolis, would be his home for the next four years. He plans on studying psychiatry there.

DeLong said, “Butler looked like a place I’d be able to fit in the best, with a good mix between football, social life, and academics.”

From family, friends, and coaches, there were many people that helped the senior 3-sport athlete reach the point he’s at today. However, according to DeLong, none was more important in this process than Badin head coach Nick Yordy.

DeLong said, “Without him I wouldn't have had the opportunity to do what I did this year, and I wouldn’t have ended up at Butler without all the help he gave me during the recruiting process.”

Rams fans will miss seeing him in green, and his opponents are certainly glad to see him gone, but all are excited to see DeLong take the next step in his football career as a Butler Bulldog.