Countdown to 2020 IUFB Kickoff: 5 (Juwan Burgess)

Written by Evan McShane

Less than a week remaining until the start of Big Ten college football. The Hoosier Huddle annual countdown continues, now just five days away from the season opener against Penn State. Let’s take a look at freshman quarterback Dexter Williams and defensive back Juwan Burgess.

Name – Juwan Burgess

Position – Safety 

Year/Hometown – Redshirt Junior from Tampa, FL (Plant HS)

Height – 6’1”

Weight – 197lbs

Juwan Burgess made his way to Bloomington back in 2017. After redshirting his freshman year, Burgess appeared in all 12 games at safety in 2018, tallying 25 tackles and a fumble recovery. The versatile defender was a highly touted recruit coming out of high school. Burgess topped out as the 385th best prospect in the nation according to 247Sports composite ratings.

Burgess had a slew of offers and chose USC. He then de-committed from the Trojans and found a home in Bloomington with the Hoosiers. Last year, Burgess proved a stable force in IU’s secondary. He made 29 tackles, tied for the team lead in forced fumbles with two and recovered two fumbles himself. 

Burgess has a nose for the ball and now in his first season as an upperclassman, he’ll look to be the playmaker Indiana’s defense needs. While Burgess has been reliable over his first two years at IU, he now has a chance to put together a memorable career.