2018 safety Zion Burell talks Utah offer, getting back on the field
HOUSTON, Tx. -- Lamar High School already has its share of playmakers in the secondary, but would have had one more last season had it not been for a broken collarbone that kept Zion Burrell off the field for most of it.
Now all healed-up, Burrell is working back into form this spring and ready to get back into a defensive back-end that already features highly-ranked corners Anthony Cook, and D’Shawn Jamison.
“It was tough because I came into the year so confident I was going to have a breakout season,” he said. “When I broke my collarbone, it was devastating. I felt like I was letting my teammates down and it hurt not being able to play with them on those Thursday and Friday nights. But I find it was a blessing, because it put me in the place I’m at right now.”
With Oklahoma State wide receiver coach Kasey Dunn at practice on Monday, Burrell may have given himself a shot at working towards his next offer. He picked up his first from Utah on May 11 and said that Cincinnati, Illinois and UTSA are all keeping up communication with him as well.
IN HIS WORDS
On picking up his first offer from Utah
“It’s a blessing to be able to get my first offer from such a great school,” he said. “They’ll definitely be a top school for me over the course of the year for taking a chance on me first, and not just for that, but for many other reasons.
“I’m beyond blessed that the first offer was Utah because the Pac-12 has always been a conference I’ve wanted to go to since I was a kid.”
On his relationship thus far with the Utes staff
“I talk most with Coach (Morgan) Scalley,” he said. “We talk a lot and it’s fun getting to know him more.”
RIVALS REACTION
Burrell looks like the sort of player that could start picking up steam with his recruitment very quickly. He has the look and the sort of ball skills that other elite safeties share. Also, Lamar only practices during the spring in a non-contact format, so by the time preseason practices begin, there should be no worry about getting back to tackling post-injury.