Freddie Burden giving guard a try
Georgia Tech center Freddie Burden is learning a new position in spring practice. Burden can’t snap because of a heavy cast on his right hand that protects his surgically repaired thumb. As a result, he has played right guard since being cleared to return to practice.
Burden, who started all 14 games last season and was critical to the team’s record-setting success on offense, spent time at tackle last spring. This is his first experience at guard.
“Most of the time at guard, a man’s on you, so that could be a little different,” Burden said. “And then, center, sometimes there’s a man on you, sometimes you’re going to the second level. Guard is a more physical position.”
Burden injured the thumb in the middle of last season but continued to play with the injury and then had surgery after the season. He said the injury was painful, “but, hey, it was kind of in the middle of the season. You’ve got to go with the team.”
Burden said that he’ll probably be able to start snapping again during the summer. The Yellow Jackets have also been without backup center Andrew Marshall, who underwent an unspecified surgery after the season.
Said Burden, “I do miss center.”
About the Author
Ken Sugiura is a sports columnist at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Formerly the Georgia Tech beat reporter, Sugiura started at the AJC in 1998 and has covered a variety of beats, mostly within sports.
