Victor Butler is a senior defensive end on the Oregon State football team.

He finished the 2007 season with 101/2 sacks, third in the Pacific-10 Conference.

Butler leads the Beavers with 121/2 tackles for loss and is second on the team with 41/2 sacks.

He wears the name Strong-Butler on his jersey to honor his father, Elvester.

Q: Where did you grow up?

A: I grew up in Rialto, California (and) Pasadena, back and forth. My father had a house in Pasadena and my mother had a house in Rialto and we just kind of settled on Rialto. That's where I ended up doing most of my schooling at.

Q: What did you enjoy doing during those years?

A: Everything was sports for my family, but it wasn't just football and basketball. I ran track, volleyball, soccer, baseball, whatever you could name, we played it. I guess to keep us out of trouble, keep us busy and it kept our grades up because all of our coaches required at least As and Bs to play, so I think that was a great thing to shape me as an individual and as a human being coming up, focusing on my grades and on my athleticism.

Q: You mentioned volleyball. Did you continue to play that sport?

A: I was all-state California in high school. Volleyball is a fun sport. I kind of got into it when my coach, she grabbed a lot of football players and basketball players who in the offseason we didn't have a lot to do - because I didn't run track in high school - and we were just sitting around getting fat and she said, "Hey, you guys want to play an athletic sport, play some volleyball." We're like, "That's a girls sport." We came out there and we saw the way those guys were jumping up and hitting the ball and I was like, "It looks fun to me." We gave it a shot and four years later we were all-conference, all-California team, so it was awesome.

Q: Did that have a part in your development as a football player?

A: I think so, because just like any other sport, it teaches discipline, work ethic and it makes you a better competitor. Volleyball is a highly competitive sport. That's why I take my hat off to the girls that play here, my little sister Camilla Ah-Hoy and Ashley Evans, those girls play hard. Volleyball's a tough sport and anybody who says it isn't, they haven't been watching it.

Q: Do you go to the matches here when you can?

A: When I can, because we have travel days on Friday and that's when the games are. Sometimes maybe we can catch a game on the road. I love to watch them. Like I said, it's a highly competitive sport and it's fun and you've got to be an athlete.

Q: What football positions did you play in high school and how did those experiences lead to becoming a defensive end at OSU?

A: What didn't I play in high school? I was quarterback, couldn't pass that much. Running back, strong safety, free safety, middle 'backer, outside 'backer, tight end, X, Z, Y, punt return, kick return and I held the ball on field goals. So I did a variety of things and I think what it really came down to was D-end was the last thing I played as a senior. That's because our defensive end prior to that year, Ryan Clady, Boise State offensive tackle, he graduated and went to Boise State and none of my teammates wanted to play the position. Everybody thought it was a bad position, a waste of time, and I just looked at it as I get the first opportunity to hit the ball carrier. I'm on the line, I'm closest to him. So I took it as a challenge and I fell in love with the position. I love it.

Q: How long was it before you became comfortable there and started learning the ins and outs of the position?

A: I think that came along up here. My freshman and sophomore years, coach (Greg) Newhouse and then coach Joe (Seumalo) really coming in and showing me some tools because I was, I wouldn't say raw talent, but I was kind of doing my own thing out there, just rushing the passer the best way I knew how and those guys came in and they sat me down and we watched some film on some guys like Dwight Freeney and Jeff Van Orsow and then they taught me some tools to go along with the talent that I already had and I just kind of blossomed from there. I thank God that I had those guys in my life to teach me and prepare me and sharpen me in that way.

Q: Did you watch NFL defensive ends while you were in high school?

A: Not before I picked up the position. Before, I was a receiver and a safety and I loved Randy Moss. That's who I wanted to be like, and Mike Williams from SC. And you had the safeties, like Ed Reed and Steve Atwater. When I started talking to coach (Mike) Riley during the recruiting process, I learned that I was going to be a D-end. So I was like, "What do I do?" And I started to watch those guys and those guys were huge, so I thought I had to put on some weight, didn't matter what kind of weight, just any kind of weight, and be big. And it wasn't even about that coming here, it's speed and power.

Q: How big were you coming out of high school?

A: I probably checked in here at 195, 200 at tops. And today I'm 242, so I gained a lot of weight.

Q: Were you thinking about going somewhere else and playing another sport?

A: I had a couple of offers for volleyball, but (my) passion first and foremost is football. I wanted to go to a school that had a good football program and men's volleyball and nobody has a good men's volleyball team and a good football team. So I picked the one I loved the most and it was football. As far as football goes, I had offers from Central Florida and San Diego State and Washington, too, but I came here and I fell in love with the atmosphere and the coaches and I love it up here. It was an awesome experience coming up here on the recruiting trip.

Q: Are there any interests or hobbies you've picked up since coming to Corvallis?

A: I play a lot of video games and I take piano lessons. I'm getting better, too. Hanging out with the guys, but I don't do too much clubbing, going out drinking. I've never (had a drink) in my life. Just hanging out with the guys, watching a little TV, playing a little Madden.

Q: What made you decide to start piano lessons?

A: Ever since I was a little kid I was fascinated by the piano, but growing up, we didn't have a lot of money and I didn't have money for lessons. So when I got up here I got the chance to get in some music classes and I met a great teacher and she offered to tutor me and I've been taking it since my sophomore year in summer.

Q: What can you play?

A: I want to say anything you give me the music to, but my music reading is still developing. I play a lot of John Legend and a couple of classicals here and there. Slowly but surely I'm coming along.

Q: It that something you want to continue?

A: Oh yes. I love it. I want to get better, way better.

Q: What are you hoping to pursue as a career?

A: I'm a political science major, so this election was the topic in all my classes. But I took that because we don't really have a law program here. I want to get into law. I thought I wanted to be a defense attorney. As I got older and do a lot more research, I kind of wanted to be a sports agent because I love sports and I want to be involved in sports. So a sports attorney and just represent guys. It just seems fun.

Q: What do you have to do in order to reach that goal?

A: Well, you've got to attend law school, business administrative law, but other than that it shouldn't be that hard. I think it's an extra two years of school, which is better than the extra four it was going to be as a defense attorney, and then you've got to take the bar.

Q: Have you thought about a chance at the NFL?

A: That's every little boy's dream. More and more, you work hard and put forth the effort and stay focused and it becomes a possibility in the near future. But right now I'm a Beaver first and foremost and I just want to finish out the season and hopefully that hard work will carry me on to the next level.