2023 Countdown to IUFB Kickoff: 92 Days (Marcus Burris)

Written by: TJ Inman (@TJHoosierHuddle)

The 2023 edition of the Hoosier Huddle Countdown is officially underway! We are counting down from 100 to the beginning of the 2023 Indiana University football season. Each day, we will take a look at one (or two) players on the current Indiana football roster and highlight the player’s role in the upcoming season. Today, we take a look at a defensive lineman that was a key offseason addition: Marcus Burris.

Name: Marcus Burris

Hometown: Texarkana, Texas (transfer from Texas A&M)

Position: Defensive Line

Year: Redshirt Sophomore

Height/Weight: 6’4”/287 pounds

The Indiana Hoosiers coaching staff knew they needed to address the defensive line. As the team entered the offseason and a few linemen exited through the portal, IU needed both quality and quantity to be added up front. A player that should help address a glaring need at pass rusher was brought in from Texas A&M as IU secured a commitment from transfer Marcus Burris. Burris Jr. is a 6’4”, 287-pound lineman from Texas. He was a top 200 recruit by every recruiting service and committed to the Aggies after winning two state titles at Pleasant Grove High School in Texas. Burris Jr. missed all of the 2021 season with an Achilles injury. He battled back to play in eight games for a strong Texas A&M defense in 2022 but did not get the amount of snaps he wanted as the Aggies continue to bring in five-star talent.

Burris Jr. helps Indiana on the exterior of the defensive line. He is big enough to move inside occasionally but Burris is likely going to spend most of his snaps on the outside. No position group has seen IU rely on the transfer portal more than the defensive line and transfers from last season (LeDarrius Cox, Patrick Lucas Jr.) and this offseason (Andre Carter, Marcus Burris Jr., Philip Blidi) are going to make up the bulk of Indiana’s rotation. Burris Jr. is a contender to start but he will more than likely be used in a rotation as one of the outside linemen with the hope that he can be solid against the run and provide some penetration that pressures the opposing passer. Burris Jr. still has multiple years of eligibility and he is still a developing project that can help IU in both the present and the future.

The countdown continues with a new profile each and every day so come back to hoosierhuddle.com daily!