Student-Athlete of the Week: Gavin Burrage

Outside linebacker Gavin Burrage wasn't going to allow Niwot football to lose its first-ever game played on campus. Going up against Skyview, Burrage's barrage held the Wolverines to only one touchdown in a historic 15-6 win on Sept. 9.

"I thought it was our team's best game," Burrage said. "The energy was really high, we were all performing our best and it was just a great game for me."

Including Burrage, two other juniors on Niwot's defense have stood out, not only in the Skyview game, but throughout the Cougars' 2-1 start to the season. Fellow linebacker Nicco Kemp recorded a combined 16 total tackles in the first two weeks and defensive tackle Garrett Eker came up with a game-sealing safety against Skyview. Burrage said he's able to play with more confidence knowing that both Kemp and Eker are around.

"If I ever miss a tackle, I know Nicco has got it," said Burrage, who recorded seven of his own tackles through Week 2. "Especially Garrett's sacks game, I expect nothing less. Just having that trust in them, it really makes me more comfortable in the game."

Good things tend to happen when relaxed and that has come true for the Cougs' D.

For Burrage, who also plays offensive tackle, all of that support allows him to play football how he likes, with brute physicality.

"I love making a big play and just hitting somebody as hard as I can and hearing the crowd cheer," Burrage said. "It's a great feeling after a big play."

Coming off a strong 15-tackle sophomore campaign, Burrage takes a lot of pride in now being an upperclassman leader. His philosophy is to always conduct himself well, because younger teammates are often influenced just as heavily by player leaders as they are by coaches.

"I try to make a good example and I try to tell my friends to be good examples," Burrage said. "The freshmen are looking at me for what I'm going to do. I can tell that they're going to do what I do to see if it's okay, not what teachers tell them to do, but what we do."

But that's not to say Burrage hasn't been influenced by a few adults. He was quick to mention Niwot head coach Nik Blume as an important figure in his life.

"Coach Blume has probably been the best mentor I've had in a long time," Burrage said. "He's a football coach, but he teaches us about morals and how to be a man and how to handle yourself... He just wants us to be the best person we can be out of high school."

Around the time football season ends, Burrage will rejoin the Niwot wrestling team. Burrage said that because of wrestling's intense amount of conditioning (in multiple areas), his complimentary sport has helped him on the gridiron.

"I think wrestling has made me a much better football player," Burrage said. "My tackling has improved, my cardio has improved (and) I feel tougher. It definitely makes you stronger and I just get through things better."

Burrage currently hopes to study biology at the University of Colorado Boulder upon his 2024 high school graduation. Academics is a high priority for the junior and he mentioned that he recently received an academic student award for achieving a 3.75 GPA or higher.

"It's what I have to focus on mostly," he said. "I want to be something great and I think the way to do that is through academics. I try my hardest to push myself when it comes to that."

Fresh off a bye week, Burrage and the Cougars play next at Battle Mountain on Sept. 23.