Zach Burg of
Righetti High School in Santa Maria describes himself as a quick learner on
the football field – and his grades in the classroom helps explain his rapid
way of thinking.
Burg holds a
4.8 grade point average, which makes him the smartest Righetti football player
according to his coaches. During the Warriors’ non-league slate last season,
Burg fired off from his three point stance on the defensive line and used his
speed, hands and hustle to disrupt plays against opposing offenses. As the
season winded down, Burg lined up at two unfamiliar spots: linebacker and
fullback.
Burg,
however, didn’t look like a lost soul on Friday nights despite having to learn
two new positions. His brain cells and athleticism enabled him to adjust right
away.
At
linebacker, he showed his closing angles and aggression, as he emerged as one
of the Warriors’ top run stoppers. Offensively, the 6-foot, 215-pound Burg
plowed through opening holes with the ball in his hand or created running lanes
by charging at a linebacker and removing him from the play.
Burg is now
entering the 2015-16 campaign as not only the Warriors’ most movable player,
but also their fastest thinker.
“He’s a team
player. And, intellectually, he gets it,” his head coach Ed Herrmann said. “That
really helps his football IQ because he plays multiple positions. A guy like
that is very valuable to the team.”
Herrmann,
who’s entering his third season of coaching at RHS, said Burg reminds him of
former Tampa Bay Buccaneer fullback Mike Alstott and a former Righetti star:
Tim Carroll, who bullied past defenses as a Warrior fullback during the 2000
and 2001 seasons.
While Burg
doesn’t hesitate to take on multiple tasks on the football field, he admits he’s
not the most athletic guy on the RHS practice field. However, he still takes
pride in his work ethic and “team first” mindset.
“I may not
have the overall speed and quickness, but with my aggression I just do whatever
it takes to help my team win,” Burg said.
As RHS
opened spring practice during the week of May 18, Burg was seen lining up in
the I-Formation at fullback or in a two-point stance as an inside linebacker.
His role for
both positions is simple: be more physical than the other guy.
But for someone who’s used to being a moving chess piece on the field, does he prefer
offense or defense?
“I probably
prefer defense because of the physical aspect. But also, playing defense is
more congruent,” Burg said. “Everyone really works together and you’re closer
as a group. Everyone works together to just get that one tackle.”
Burg’s
versatility and academics have turned him into a potential NCAA Division I
prospect for RHS. Burg said Dartmouth, Princeton, Brown and Cornell of the illustrious
Ivy League are four schools asking about him. He said out of all of them he “really
likes” Brown.
Burg
describes his class load and football life as challenging but not overwhelming.
His ability to manage his class schedule teaches him to be organized and ready
to take on several duties on and off the field.
“They’re
definitely pretty hard (his classes). For some people, there’s a common
assumption that there’s a ton of homework and you have to sacrifice some
things. But it’s all manageable. You can balance it,” Burg said.
He adds that
he’s energized about this year’s Warrior team, as they look to build off of
their 4-7 season from a year ago.
Said Burg: “This
year, we have more talent and more hard working guys.”
Great article about a terrific nephew....Aunt Sue & Uncle Norm
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