LAND O’LAKES – After an all-North Suncoast prep career, Eddie Burgos is ready for what’s next in college.
The Sunlake athlete signed with Black Hills State in a ceremony Friday afternoon. He was joined by OL Aaron Protch (Geneva College) and LB Brogan Ronske (Butte College).
“I just want to play football,” Burgos said.
Burgos was the Sunshine Athletic Conference’s offensive player of the year after starring as a senior. The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder lined up at running back, receiver and cornerback for the 8-2 Seahawks. On offense, he rushed for 1,000 yards and scored 20 touchdowns and four two-point conversions. On defense, he finished with four interceptions and five passes defensed to earn first-team all-North Suncoast honors from the Times.
Black Hills State is recruiting him as an athlete, but Burgos – a track star who won a district title in the 100 meters (10.92) this spring – hopes to play offense.
Burgos is part of a large Pasco County contingent headed to Spearfish, S.D. Anclote’s Kyle King and Terrell Martin signed with the Yellow Jackets.
“We’ll all be freezing up there together,” Burgos said.
Protch was a first-team all-North Suncoast lineman with 14 pancake blocks as a senior. He helped open holes for Sunlake’s 2,400 rushing yards and will likely play guard or center at the NCAA Division III school in Beaver Falls, Pa.
Ronske, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound senior, recorded 39 tackles and three sacks on defense while catching eight passes and one TD on offense. He’ll play at the well-known junior college in California.