DJ BURGESS FORGING HIS OWN PATH AT LAFAYETTE
By JAKE THOMPSON
D
J Burgess is the son of former Ole Miss and NFL great Derrick Burgess, but he is out to make his own way in football and Lafayette is reaping the benefits. The standout lineman is one of Lafayette’s biggest strengths on defense and the biggest “He’s always been headache for opposing explosive, but his body now offenses. “Burgess is, he is allowing him to do things effects everything we that he couldn’t do a couple do at practice,” said Lafayette head coach years ago,. He’s slimmed up, Micheal Fair. “When probably 250 pounds and you run plays against DJ Burgess you need 6-3. A quick twitch and a to know where’s lining great jump off the line of up. If know if he’s doing scrimmage. But, he’s really that for us I can only hope he’s doing that for honed in on some skills with opposing offenses, too.” his hands and some things Linebacker Mario Wilbourn is the team’s that he’s doing with his returning leading pad level that very few tackler but Burgess is right behind him, at this level get to. It making 67 tackles in doesn’t hurt he’s got 2020 and 46 of those were unassisted. a sack leader as a Not only does father.” Burgess seem to know where the ball is at all times, he is able to get to the quarterback before he can get rid of it more times than not. Last season, Burgess led the team in sacks with eight which was two ahead of Wilbourn’s six.
20
FALL SPORTS PREVIEW 2021
