NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State football coach Jay Thomas continues to bolster his 2013 roster with preseason camp just over six weeks away, announcing Wednesday the signing of Butler (Kan.) Community College receiver Chris Fields, who helped the Grizzlies play for the national title last fall.                            
    Fields (6-2, 190) was an All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference honorable mention selection last fall and helped Butler win two straight league and regional championships.
    "Chris is coming to us from a program that has consistently been one of the best in the country. It's always great to bring a guy in that is used to winning and expects to win every week," said Thomas.
     "He is a very consistent player that will help to improve our receiver position. Chris is a smooth route runner with great hands and he really understands the game. He is also an outstanding student and we can't wait to get him here."
    Fields caught 25 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns last season, averaging 13.6 per catch and including a 64-yarder.  He was part of an offense that averaged 488 yards and 45 points per game.
    His career totals were 53 catches for 682 yards and five touchdowns as Butler went 22-2 in his two junior college seasons.
    A product of Olathe, Kan., and Olathe East High School, Fields was All-State Class 6A, all-conference, all-county and all-city as a senior. He played in the Shrine Bowl All-Star Game and the Missouri-Kansas All-Star Game after earning his fourth letter in football.