South Carolina end Jordan Burch discusses future, playing in bowl
In a time where most players make their professional decisions before the bowl game, South Carolina defensive end Jordan Burch is going to wait.
Speaking after the Gamecocks’ Tuesday practice, the media asked Burch if he made a decision on next season and he hasn’t just yet.
“I haven’t made one yet, no sir,” Burch said.
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Burch, a former five-star recruit, is in his first full season starting for South Carolina while being a rotational piece his first two seasons.
This year, Burch leads the team with 35 total pressures and 27 hurries. Burch is also tied for the team-best with six quarterback hits. He has career-highs this year in tackles (56), tackles for loss (7.5) and sacks (3.5).
After the Gamecocks’ bowl game Burch will sit down with his family while making his ultimate decision.
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“Talk to my mom, talk to my coaches and see what’s best for me,” Burch said. “See how that process works and make the best decision for me.”
He could return for at least one more year and improve his draft stock as a second-year starter. Burch has two years of eligibility left after this one.
On3’s consensus rankings had Burch a five-star prospect, the top-ranked EDGE player while being the No. 11 prospect in the 2020 class. In three seasons (30 games), he has 101 tackles and 12.5 tackles for loss with 4.5 sacks.
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But regardless, Burch is going to play in South Carolina’s bowl game.
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“I love my teammates. I love everybody in the building,” Burch said. “This is a good opportunity for me and my teammates. Some seniors won’t be here next year. So play with them one more time.”
South Carolina is also incredibly thin at defensive end heading into the bowl with injuries to Jordan Strachan and Gilber Edmond defecting to the portal.
Burch will play along with Tyreek Johnson, Terrell Dawkins and Bryan Thomas Jr.
“I guess next man up. We’ve been preparing pretty well for that. Everyone is ready for the game,” he said. “They practice pretty hard for moments like this.”
South Carolina will practice two more times–Wednesday and Thursday–before kickoff Friday against Notre Dame (3:30 p.m., ESPN)
“Pretty good. The first day was pretty cold,” Burch said. “Now it’s getting back to that Florida weather. We’ve been having fun getting ready for the game coming up.”
