KNOXVILLE -- Andrew Butcher arrived on Tennessee's campus with plenty of promise as a four-star recruit, but injuries prohibited his career with the Volunteers from ever getting off the ground.
Four surgeries on the same knee later, the defensive end is ending his football career.
On Monday night Butcher announced on Twitter he will going on medical scholarship and continue working to earn his degree without football.
"After 2 years with this amazing program, today, I have taken a medical exemption that ends my football career at UT," Butcher wrote. "I have had 4 surgeries, 2 major on the same knee. It is in my best interest and UT's to take this option.
"UT will stand behind me, and I will get my degree from this great University. Thank you to all of those who followed my career, and am sorry it did not turn out like I had hoped when I got here. I will always cherish my time being a part of this program."
Butcher was rated as a four-star recruit by both Rivals and ESPN out of the Atlanta area after starring at Alpharetta High School -- the same school that produced Tennessee quarterback Josh Dobbs -- with 167 tackles and 23.5 sacks in his prep career.
After enrolling early in 2015, Butcher redshirted in 2015 after undergoing knee surgery, grew into a defensive tackle while recovering and finally returned to the practice field midway through the 2016 season, but he never appeared in any games.
Andrew's father, Brian, played for Clemson and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 1983.
Butcher is at least the fourth Vols forced to end his career due to medical reasons in recent seasons, joining tight end Justin Meredith, defensive back Devaun Swafford and running back Joe Young.
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.