Sunday, August 6, 2023

2023 Season Countdown: #41 Ja'Den McBurrows

 

Ja'Den McBurrows (image via Instagram)

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Name: Ja’Den McBurrows
Height: 
5’11”
Weight: 
200 lbs.
High school: 
Fort Lauderdale (FL) Saint Thomas Aquinas
Position: 
Cornerback
Class: 
Redshirt sophomore
Jersey number: 
#1
Last year: 
I ranked McBurrows #51 and said he would be a backup cornerback (LINK). He did not play.
TTB Rating:
 73

The year 2022 was probably one Ja'Den McBurrows wouldn't mind forgetting, at least from a personal standpoint. He spent a good chunk of the year recovering from an injury, and then when he wasn't injured, he was getting attacked by a bunch of idiot Michigan State players in the tunnel, along with Gemon Green. After playing four games in 2021, he didn't see any action last year.

So this may be my biggest reach in the 2023 season countdown. It's a player who has 2 tackles and 1 pass breakup in four career games, and now I have him at #41. What gives?

Well, the buzz for McBurrows has been steady for the past couple years. The coaching staff seems to like him, but health has been an issue. He was a turnover machine in high school, and hopefully he can continue some of that in college. Last year he was blocked by a pretty good trio of Gemon Green, Will Johnson, and D.J. Turner II, but Green and Turner are gone. Now he's contending with Amorion Walker and UMass transfer Josh Wallace for a starting spot across from Johnson. McBurrows also has the skill set to play in the slot if something were to happen to Mike Sainristil. I don't think McBurrows will win a starting spot, but he should be in the cornerback rotation.

Prediction: Backup cornerback

4 comments:

  1. I hope the best wins CB2 (obviously), but this kid seems to be the most likely

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  2. I would have had mcburrows in the teens until Wallace arrived. Now I'd drop him into the 20s because I think he'll be the top backup across three starting spots. I can see the case for quinten Johnson being in the conversation but I don't think Walker will be ready this year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmmm...interesting. Harbaugh has talked about Walker being the starter, so I don't really know how McBurrows would be in the teens. I'm not saying Walker will win the job outright, just that I don't see how McBurrows would be a top-20 player if he's barely played and is behind Walker in Harbaugh's mind.

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    2. Walker is not going to start unless someone is hurt. I think you're reading too much into Harbaugh spring excitement about walkers potential

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