"Thunder in the Gap and Fire to the Football"

Garrison Burris

@garrison_b11

5'11, 195lbs, Class of 2028

Glenva HS, VA

Garrison brings an explosive, downhill edge to the defense, and he takes pride in making every tackle count. He is averaging 16 tackles per game, using quick instincts to find the ball and fierce contact to drive runners backward. When an offense tries to develop a play, he wants to recognize it early, get into his fit, and meet the ball carrier before there is room to gain momentum. His speed helps him pursue when the ball moves away from him, while his physical approach makes anyone coming his way earn every yard.

That instinctive play starts well before the ball is snapped. Garrison spends serious time watching film, studying formations and offensive tendencies until he can spot clues that help him call out what may be coming. He also helps his teammates get lined up correctly, giving the defense a better chance to attack together from the start. Then he trusts his preparation, reacts, and gets to the football with purpose. The work he's put into pursuing and rallying to the ball has made a difference since last season, giving him more chances to finish plays that begin farther from his spot.

Few moments give him a bigger rush than shooting through a gap on a blitz and bringing down the quarterback. That play captures what he loves about defense: seeing the opening, hitting it with speed, and making his presence felt in the backfield. He wants his tackles to change the direction of a drive, and he wants offenses to know that getting past the first defender won't mean getting past him. Whether he's filling his fit or chasing a play down, his goal is to bring the same fierce effort every time.

Garrison had to rebuild that confidence after spraining his MCL in his first varsity game as a junior. The injury took him away from the field just as he was stepping into varsity football, and getting healthy required patience with icing, visits to the trainer, and physical therapy. He also had to face the fear that can come with returning after an injury. By focusing on his recovery and continuing to work, he gave himself the chance to play freely again and trust his body when it was time to make a tackle.

Speed was his main focus this offseason, and he wanted every bit of that work to show up when he pursued the football. His routine includes workouts, preparation, and the film study that sharpens his decisions before the snap. He's set his sights on forcing more turnovers and breaking his school’s single-season tackles record. Those goals demand more than one big hit or one big game, so he keeps working to recognize plays sooner, reach the ball faster, and make each chance count.

His love for football fuels that work, and his teammates give him another reason to bring everything he has. Garrison wants to help them get lined up, rally with them when the ball moves, and be there when a stop is needed. That combination of preparation, explosive movement, and fierce tackling gives him a way to affect a game from the first snap through the last.

I assess that Garrison’s instincts and film study stand out because they help him act with confidence before an offense can settle into a play. He recognizes formations, communicates what he sees, and understands where he needs to be when the ball is snapped. His improved pursuit adds another layer to that preparation, letting him get involved even when the play begins away from him. When he reaches the runner, he brings the physical finish he expects from himself and works to send the ball carrier backward.

Garrison can build on this season by continuing to turn quick recognition into tackles, stops in the backfield, and chances to take the ball away. The determination he showed during his recovery matters here, too, because he has already learned to keep working through a difficult stretch and return with confidence. If he keeps sharpening his speed and trusting the work he puts in before each game, he gives himself a strong shot at the goals he has set while helping his teammates make more stops together.