Chandler Burks was the first football player to commit to KSU when he verbally intrusted his loyalty to the Black and Gold back in June.
After his senior campaign at South Paulding high school, it’s tough not to argue that he could be the team’s starting signal caller when it kicks off in 2015. Burks, who was recruited as a receiver, cornerback, and quarterback by Georgia Southern, Georgia State and Mercer, among others, has already taken somewhat of a leadership role with the budding team. He’s got some pretty impressive stats under his belt, too.
In his first full-year as a starting quarterback with the Spartans, the 5’10” Burks showed his diminutive size was no issue. He threw for 2,468 yards and 24 touchdowns while rushing for 1,476 and 18 more scores. He was named the class 5-AAAAA Player of the Year by the Georgia Sports Writers Association after leading the Spartans to a 9-1 regular season mark and a playoff win.
We could call him Chandler Football, but I digress.
Burks will suit up and have a full year with the team’s first signing class when the team begins practice this Fall, and it’s beginning to look like his chances at quarterback have increased dramatically.
“All I know is [the coaches] cracked some jokes that with the way I produced on the field this year. Offensively, it’s going to be hard for coach Newberry to get me on the defensive side because he wants me over there,” Burks said. “But, I’m still planning on playing wherever I’m needed to benefit the team.”
Burks also took it upon himself to do some recruiting, and has been in touch with most of the 17 other commits who have pledged, so far, to sign with the Owls in February.
“Every single time we get a new recruit in, it’s always exciting to see the high caliber of skill that they have,” Burks said. “It’s unbelievable because there’s so many good athletes out there, and those good athletes are saying, ‘I’m going to KSU.’”
With a strong voice in the proverbial locker room and video game numbers, it’s hard not to like what this kid could offer to the program. And, unlike Johnny Football, he has a good track record off the field, in terms of character and self- conduct. Harvard and Yale were bidding for his talents during the recruiting process.
In what will be a variation of the triple-option offense, Burks’ skillset fits perfectly. He doesn’t have to be tall enough to regularly see over an offensive line. I covered his playoff game against Sequoyah this past year and was blown away with his crisp decision making, escapability and leadership. He’s too much of an “it” guy to not be a considerably seamless fit to lead a new football team.
His team was eliminated in the second round of the playoffs, albeit against Gainesville and the top quarterback recruit in the country in Clemson commit Deshaun Watson.
“It was kind of bitter sweet playing my last game. I spent four years with those guys, but I now know I’ve got five years with another group,” Burks said. “I get excited every time I talk to coach Glanton and coach Bohannon. I’m getting more excited to put on that lid and play with the guys who’ve committed to KSU. It’s going to be something special.”
