Anthony Burton '17 Recruiting Profile

Unlike many of my teammates I did not play little league football though I have been a a three sport athlete my entire life playing the mainstream sports of basketball, baseball and soccer. With the persuasion of Coach Terrell Alexander, my parent allowed me to play the sport that I have come to love. I have recently decide to narrow my student- athlete focus and to dedicate my time, training and attention as student-athlete to the sport of football and track. Unlike many of my teammates. My freshman year at Rich Central was my first opportunity to play full contact football and it was one of the best things to ever happen to me.

In the fall of 2013, with limited experience, I started my freshman year on both the freshman and sophomore football teams, respectively. I was also elevated to the Varsity team for the two state playoff games that Rich Central competed in. At every level during my high school career I have been one of the team leaders. In my freshman and sophomore season and I was selected as a team captain. As a junior I was one of three juniors that lead the team with the senior captains. Now as a Senior I have been a team captain and one of the leaders, vocally and by example.

Along with my leadership skills, I have been one of the bigger player in our entire program. As a freshman I stood at 6’1” and weighed approximately 250 pounds and now I have grown to 6’3’ and built more muscle mass at a leaner weight of 245 pounds. In my four years at Rich Central I have worked extremely hard to get leaner, stronger and faster. I currently run a 4.7 in the 40 yard dash, a 8.2 broad jump, and a 30 inch vertical jump. I have also lowered my body fat to 15 percent.

In every life optical there is a lesson. I have to overcome a major optical i halfway through my sophomore year when a sustained a shoulder injury that sidelined me for the remainder of my sophomore year and half of my junior year. Though is sidelined my it has made me work harder off the field, I realized that I still have a great future on and off the field. I am ready for greatness and is pushing myself for this upcoming season and beyond.

With the senior class we are destined to have a great season and will definitely make the state playoff for the third time in my 4 years of high school. As a 3 year starter on the Varsity Squad and now team Captain, I believe we will be better than the 2014 varsity team that finished with an impressive record of 9-2. I believe this team can contend for a state championship.

I was fortunate enough to be part of an amazing program, and started on the varsity level for 3 of my four years. I learned the value of teamwork, commitment, sacrifice, and leadership. For my collegiate experience, I'm looking for a program that will be a good fit for me athletically as well as academically. I believe I have the talent to compete for a Division 1 college team. I have the character, work-ethic, and leadership skills to make an immediate impact on any program. As a three-sport athlete and team captain and I know that I have what it takes to be a leader on and off the field