With just one player inking Wednesday at East Marion, Jaheim Burkett got to take center stage on National Signing Day.
The 6-foot-1 290-pounder was a two-way star for the Eagles as a senior and has been a fixture for several years. Burkett said signing a scholarship means everything to him because he’s loved playing football since he was a kid and to be able to play at the next level is very special to him.
“Being able to finally provide for my family in the future helps me out, too,” he said.
Belhaven’s focus on academics and preaching that their athletes are students first struck a chord with Burkett.
Burkett started at left tackle at East Marion for several years while rotating in on the defensive line until his senior year, when he played both ways full time. He said he’s excited to be able to focus solely on his favorite side of the ball: defense.
“I don’t have to know the scheme for both defense and offense. I can just focus on being the best I can on defense,” he said. “I get to get physical every time I come off the ball.”
The defensive tackle said he’d like to thank the Eagles coaching staff, his mom, Gloria, dad, Jermaine Sr., brother, Jermaine Jr., friends and everyone who supported him along the way.
