Latest news with #TravisBurgess
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
UNC football commit shoots up 247Sports rankings
The future of the quarterback position for the North Carolina Tar Heels looks bright. After some struggles with consistency last year, the Tar Heels upgraded the room with the addition of Gio Lopez through the transfer portal as well as four-star recruit Bryce Baker. But the 2026 recruiting class also has a player at the position who is making a lot of noise. UNC football commit Travis Burgess continues to impress analysts after committing to the Tar Heels earlier in 2025 including a good performance at the Elite 11 event. Now, his improvements are paying off in a big way as he was the biggest riser in 247Sports' updated recruiting rankings for the 2026 class. Burgess jumped 200 spots to No. 65 overall and went from the No. 24 quarterback to the No. 7 player at his position in this update. He also moved to a high four-star recruit and is the Tar Heels' highest-ranked recruit in the 2026 class. Scouts noticed Burgess' performance at the Elite 11 event, helping improve is ranking: "Burgess simply exceeded our expectations at the Elite 11 Finals," director of scouting Andrew Ivins said after the rankings update. "We were big fans of what he put on tape towards the tail end of his junior year, but we still had some questions about the arm. Both his velocity and accuracy really flashed over the course of the three days, which says a lot because he's also a dynamic runner." The Georgia native is the key piece in UNC's recruiting class for 2026, which ranks No. 17 overall as it stands right now. He's also the second Top 100 player at the quarterback position to commit to UNC, joining Drake Maye. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions. This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC football commit Travis Burgess earned a big boost on 247Sports
New York Times
07-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Bill Belichick's hand-picked QB recruit has the background to thrive under legendary coach
Playing for Bill Belichick might seem like a daunting proposition for a kid still in high school. On one hand, Belichick is the greatest coach in NFL history, having won an unprecedented six Super Bowls with the New England Patriots. On the other hand, the 73-year-old Belichick's gruff persona, with his monosyllabic utterances at news conferences, has become the stuff of legend. Advertisement Travis Burgess, the 17-year-old son of a retired U.S. Army captain, though, is not your typical high school recruit. 'I know a lot of guys have mixed emotions about Bill Belichick just because they see some of his interviews on the internet, but actually meeting him in person, I got a relationship with him,' said Burgess, a Class of 2026 prospect who committed to North Carolina in May. 'Being able to talk with him and understand him, he is very relatable.' The quarterback from Georgia said it was Belichick who sold him on the Tar Heels and convinced him North Carolina was the program that could best develop his skills. When Coach Belichick calls you answer!OV this weekend see yall at Chapel Hill🐏🐏 #TarHeelNation #GoHeels @UNCFootball @grayson_fb #4theG — Travis Burgess (@TravisBurgess_) May 29, 2025 Burgess and his parents visited Chapel Hill in May and were blown away by Belichick and his staff. Belichick said to Burgess, 'I'm gonna show you why I wanted to recruit you,' and then proceeded to pull up his game film from the 2024 season, when the quarterback led Grayson High School in Loganville to a 7A state title. For an hour, Belichick went through Burgess' plays, asking him why he made this read and why he made that read, but also talked about his progress throughout the 2024 season, his first year as the starting quarterback. The 6-foot-5, 205-pound Burgess threw 24 touchdown passes with just four interceptions and also ran for four more TDs and almost 600 yards. When he committed to UNC in late May — picking the Tar Heels over Auburn, NC State and others — he was ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 30 quarterback in the country by 247Sports. Now, after an impressive week at the Elite 11 Finals in June, he is a four-star and ranked No. 16 among QBs. Advertisement 'He really stood out,' said Elite 11 coach Justin Hoover, who has trained several NFL quarterbacks. 'He was a big riser for me.' The recruiting process, especially the part connected to the online rankings, can be frustrating for many high school prospects. With quarterbacks, it can be even more soul-crushing since there's a domino effect in play, with most colleges only looking to take one QB per class. Being patient can be difficult for many prospects. 'Honestly, for me, it wasn't because I knew that my time was coming,' he said. 'And just like with me not starting till my junior season, once I got the opportunity you could see, I won a state championship. The rankings never really affected me because I knew my time was coming, whether I was a three- or a four-star. And once you get to college, that stuff doesn't matter. It might help as far as popularity or maybe NIL.' He actually received his first offer late in his sophomore year from Arizona State. 'They were able to see a little bit of JV film, but they took a chance on me,' he said. In addition to leading Grayson to a state championship in football, Burgess also helped the Rams win their first title in basketball. His mom, Jennifer, played basketball at Brewton-Parker University, an NAIA school in Mount Vernon, Ga. 'He gets all his athleticism from his mom,' said Burgess' dad, Harold. Harold, who retired after serving 24 years in the Army, sees Belichick and North Carolina as an ideal fit for his son. 'He's very disciplined,' Harold said. 'He sticks to his routine. Every morning, he does the same routine over and over. Friday nights and Saturday nights, when a lot of his friends are having fun, we're at the house watching film. The next morning, we're getting up, working out. And he's waiting on me in the morning, like, 'Hey dad, let's go!' I think the discipline that he's been around for his entire upbringing will definitely benefit him.' Advertisement The elder Burgess said Travis picked up good habits from being around the military while growing up. But he also credited the culture at Grayson, where he learned the attention to detail required to play the position from JD Davis, the Rams' previous starting quarterback, who recently transferred to Alabama A&M after one season at Western Michigan. As part of his daily routine, Travis will put his phone away for three hours every night to read a book, do homework or watch film, his dad says. 'He sets a goal and he doesn't get distracted,' Harold said. 'Him being around a lot of military people, he's seen how once they have an objective, they try to conquer it. The distractions are minimalized. His ultimate goal is to be in the NFL one day and he knows the little things matter. He's realized that at an early age, it's how you do anything is how you do everything.' The Burgesses have raised their three children (Travis is the oldest) in a very competitive environment. After each of the kids has a sporting event — whether it's a flag football game for Trinity, an eighth grader and the youngest child, or one of Travis' varsity football games — the family will convene in Harold's Dodge Ram 1500 truck and each rate the performance on a scale of 1-10. It's a tradition Travis' mom implemented. 'In the truck, we keep it real,' Harold said, adding that they've given out some 1s in there. The Burgesses grew up as Falcons fans, which meant Belichick spoiled what would've been the greatest day in their team's history when his Patriots rallied from a 28-3 deficit to beat Atlanta in Super Bowl LI in February 2017. The family sees Belichick much differently now that he wears Carolina blue. Travis describes being recruited by Belichick as 'awesome.' Even though Belichick is best known for his defensive acumen — he also won two Super Bowls as the Giants defensive coordinator — his grasp on all aspects of the game will prove to be a great resource for Burgess. After all, Belichick drafted and helped develop Tom Brady from a sixth-rounder into the greatest quarterback in NFL history. Burgess said he's already reaping the benefits of being part of Belichick's program, meeting often with the coach and the rest of the quarterbacks either by Zoom or in person when he visits the campus. Advertisement 'The quarterbacks meet every Wednesday and talk about the game of football,' Burgess said, 'and then they talk about the life of football because there is the physical and the mental, so just being able to sit in there in those meetings with Bill Belichick and the other quarterbacks has been awesome. He could coach any position.' (Photo courtesy of the Burgess family)
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UNC class of 2026 quarterback commit adds fourth star on 247Sports
The North Carolina Tar Heels are quietly building one of the top 2026 recruiting classes across college football – and continue adding talent seemingly every day. UNC's 2026 class is highlighted by four separate 4-star recruits: in-state edge rusher Zavion Griffin-Haynes, defensive tackle Trashawn Ruffin, safety Jamarrion Gordon and quarterback Travis Burgess. North Carolina has 20+ recruits in its next class, which should continue growing, particularly if there's on-field success in Chapel Hill this fall. Advertisement Burgess, who plays at Grayson High School in Loganville (Ga.), will join a 2026 Tar Heels quarterback room that includes 2025 signee Bryce Baker and South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez. As Burgess prepares to play his final football season before arriving at UNC, he recently gained some good news, earning a fourth star on his 247Sports recruiting profile. Burgess is currently the 16th-ranked quarterback nationally – and the 27th-ranked player overall in Georgia. 247Sports called Burgess, who wowed at the Elite 11 finals, "One of the most impressive players in Los Angeles – and (he) was constantly able to turn heads with his ball placement." As mentioned previously, Burgess will join Baker and Lopez in North Carolina's 2026 QB room. Baker is a freshman – and there's a strong likelihood he stays in Chapel Hill for Year Two, given the fact he gave the Tar Heels one of their earliest, class of 2025 commitments. Advertisement Lopez will enter his redshirt sophomore season this fall, competing with Baker and Johnson for the starting job. If Lopez wins the starting gig and plays well during his first year as a Tar Heel, he should return in 2026. Burgess is a major recruiting victory for UNC, choosing it over the likes of more successful programs in Wisconsin and Auburn. Can Burgess be the next great North Carolina quarterback? Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions. This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC football commit Travis Burgess gains fourth star on 247Sports
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
UNC football QB commit upgraded to four star ahead of senior season
Just a few weeks ago, North Carolina secured a commitment from its first quarterback in the Class of 2026. Travis Burgess hails from Loganville, Georgia, where he plays at Grayson High School. Burgess was a three-star quarterback at the time of his commitment, but he has since been on the rise. Now, according to Burgess has entered the four-star category. They have him as the No. 27 best QB in the class and the No. 58 best player in the state. Advertisement 247Sports still has Burgess as a three-star with a composite three-star as well, but it is only time before he gets a star there as well. He is on the upper end of the three-star recruits with an 89 overall rating and an .8844 composite rating. Andrew Ivins from 247 Sports had this to say about Burgess's future: "Ascending dual-threat quarterback with rare size and athleticism for the position that guided one of the Peach State's most talent-rich programs to a championship in his first year as a full-time starter. Built for the RPO game with his lower-body twitch and dynamic movements as a runner. Might not own the highest completion percentage, but a deep dive of the junior tape reveals an evolving passer that can change speeds and throw with anticipation to the second level." Advertisement Burgess now joins defensive lineman Trashawn Ruffin as the two lone four-star recruits in the class for Bill Belichick and North Carolina. They have 12 other three-star recruits, with five of them a 247Sports 88-rating or better. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions. This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC football commit Travis Burgess upgraded to a four-star recruit
USA Today
02-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
UNC football QB commit upgraded to four star ahead of senior season
UNC football QB commit upgraded to four star ahead of senior season Just a few weeks ago, North Carolina secured a commitment from its first quarterback in the Class of 2026. Travis Burgess hails from Loganville, Georgia, where he plays at Grayson High School. Burgess was a three-star quarterback at the time of his commitment, but he has since been on the rise. Now, according to Burgess has entered the four-star category. They have him as the No. 27 best QB in the class and the No. 58 best player in the state. 247Sports still has Burgess as a three-star with a composite three-star as well, but it is only time before he gets a star there as well. He is on the upper end of the three-star recruits with an 89 overall rating and an .8844 composite rating. Andrew Ivins from 247 Sports had this to say about Burgess's future: "Ascending dual-threat quarterback with rare size and athleticism for the position that guided one of the Peach State's most talent-rich programs to a championship in his first year as a full-time starter. Built for the RPO game with his lower-body twitch and dynamic movements as a runner. Might not own the highest completion percentage, but a deep dive of the junior tape reveals an evolving passer that can change speeds and throw with anticipation to the second level." Burgess now joins defensive lineman Trashawn Ruffin as the two lone four-star recruits in the class for Bill Belichick and North Carolina. They have 12 other three-star recruits, with five of them a 247Sports 88-rating or better. Follow us @TarHeelsWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of North Carolina Tar Heels news, notes and opinions.
