Burtch Earns Scholarship, Now Eyes Starting Spot

[Mavric]

When you’re driving your defender backward to free a teammate for a big gain on fourth-and-2 or desperately reaching out of bounds after a reception to stop the clock before a Hail Mary pass, your efforts won’t go unnoticed.
Those fourth-quarter plays by walk-on Sam Burtch last season spurred game-winning drives in dramatic Nebraska victories against Michigan and Northwestern.

They’re also exhibits A and B on a fairly long list of reasons that explain why Burtch technically is no longer a walk-on.

The Murdock native was placed on scholarship in January, meaning Burtch, an Academic All-Big Ten player, achieved his goal earlier than he’d anticipated.

“Big time, man,” said Burtch, a junior who’s entering his fourth season in the program. “This is kind of the earliest I was hoping for. It’s pretty early for a walk-on. You don’t usually get it until your senior year, or something like that. So this is pretty early.

“It’s just a blessing to have that opportunity.”

LJS

 

[Mavric]

He's got everything you look for:

Nebraska receivers coach Rich Fisher said last spring to keep an eye on Burtch because of his deceptive speed, physical ability, ball skills and overall football IQ.

 

[Mavric]

Another good article on Burtch - OWH

“He's a real straightforward guy,” sophomore receiver Jordan Westerkamp said. “He comes out here, gets his work in. He does what he needs to do.”
Sort of robotic, in a way. Unfazed by the highs or lows. “That's how he always is,” said another fellow receiver, Kenny Bell. “Kind of nonchalant.”

And that's what many teammates and coaches seem to admire most about Burtch, the walk-on from Elmwood-Murdock High School who's a front-runner to earn a starting job this fall.

He's a 6-foot-3, 195-pound junior receiver who says he tries not to obsess over his failures and avoids daydreaming about his potential. He sets his goals and quietly goes after them, one step at a time.

Coach Bo Pelini called Burtch a “big-time leader” on the team, referencing his commitment to the program and the game.