Burton making case for more playing time
Linebacker with long injury history having good camp
University at Albany linebacker Damon Burton headed to the sideline for medical attention early in Tuesday’s practice at Casey Stadium.
It didn’t have anything to do with the left leg he has broken twice during his football career.
“Turf in the eye is not a good feeling at all,” Burton explained with a laugh after practice. “I’ve got to get a little visor, maybe, and get the turf out of my eyes.”
After a visit to the athletic trainer, Burton was back on the field quickly, just a minor setback in what’s been a productive preseason for the redshirt junior from Rochester.
Head coach Greg Gattuso said Burton “had a great day” during Saturday’s intrasquad scrimmage and “has really been having a good camp.”
Working at either outside linebacker spot in Ualbany’s 4-3 defense, Burton is currently the top reserve in a deep group behind starters Danny Damico and AJ Mistler, both redshirt juniors, and Jackson Ambush, a redshirt freshman.
“We’re trying to figure out where he’s most effective,” Gattuso said. “This is kind of what I envisioned for (Burton) when we recruited him. He was a really aggressive guy and I think injuries really slowed him early in his career for the last couple of years. But he’s back and he’s playing confident and I’m happy for him. He’s doing really well and we’re really pleased with him right now.”
Burton broke his leg at Aquinas Institute in Rochester and again in practice at Ualbany in 2018. The fractures were about an inch apart.
He said he feels fine after working with strength and conditioning coach Matt Barber and the training staff. But he still wears a white sleeve on the leg as a reminder.
“It’s kind of like my memory thing, like I’m good,” he said. “It’s one of my securities to let me know that I’m good ... I feel the best I have since I’ve been in college, so I’m excited.”
He has played 17 career games for the Great Danes and made 10 tackles.
Burton is listed at 5foot-9 and 195 pounds on Ualbany’s roster, making him the smallest of the linebackers. Burton said he actually weighs 205.
He sometimes plays the “Sam” linebacker, who lines up in the box across from a tight end who might outweigh him by 50 pounds.
“It’s a mentality thing,” Burton said. “If you want to make a play, you’re going to make a play. I go out there and I know my abilities and just try to make every play I can. When you know the defense, everything slows down and you can see how everything plays out in front of you.”
Freshman quarterback Tyler Szalkowski, also an Aquinas graduate, completed a pass in Tuesday’s practice just over the fingers of a leaping Burton.
“If I was 5-10, I would have gotten it,” Burton said with a laugh.
He figures his lack of size is the reason he only received one Division I offer despite making firstteam all-state at Aquinas, which won a pair of Class AA state titles. Ualbany first reached out with a Twitter direct message from then- Great Danes assistant Gabe Luvara.
“I’ve had a chip on my shoulder since I was a kid,” Burton said. “Coming from Rochester, nobody expects you to make it out. Also, my size, so everything just builds up and I look at my Mom, my brother and my (four) sisters and I want to do something for them.”
Damico said Burton provides a contagious enthusiasm for the Great Danes, who open their season on Sept. 4 at North Dakota State.
“The kid has the most heart I’ve ever seen,” Damico said. “He’s been put in a weird position these past few years and he’s always produced in scrimmages and practices. He comes out with the best energy and the best attitude to keep fighting for that position.”