By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
Eastside Catholic’s Jeremiah Burroughs has seen a great deal of personal growth and discipline in order to earn and maintain his spot as the team’s starting running back.
Burroughs, who won the starting position last year as a junior, says that being part of the EC football program has been a journey filled with ups and downs. For Burroughs, his biggest challenge was being “undersized,” but that didn’t stop him from reaching his initial goal of being a starter on the varsity football team.
“Coming in freshman year, I was 150 [pounds], and I had a goal to be in the starting lineup. I wasn’t able to my freshman and sophomore years until I switched positions at my coach’s request,” says Burroughs. “But then, after losing in the state championship that winter, I was determined to bulk up and earn that starting running back position. I went from 150 pounds to now being 180 pounds.”
For Burroughs, his path to the football field did not come easy. In his heart, he knew he was a running back, but he was willing to do whatever he needed to do to get playing time on the field.
“I had been playing running back all my life and went through my freshman year as a running back, but I was not starting at the time,” says Burroughs. “My coach switched my position to slot wide receiver as he said there was a possibility I would start. At that time, I was trying to do whatever I could to get on the field, so I switched positions.”
“Although I was not able to gain the starting spot at first, I was able to improve my footwork and abilities, which has really helped me in the backfield,” he added.
Working hard day and night, lifting weights, and running hills were just part of what Burroughs did to prepare for his chance to move up and lead his team.
“I was doing whatever I could to make sure that I would start and be able to help my team win a championship. And so I did—I started my junior year as a running back. Throughout the four years now, I have been able to make connections with people on my team that I can now call my brothers,” says Burroughs.
Burroughs’ father, Ronald Burroughs, says he is proud of his son, both as a father and as a coach, and admires how Jeremiah has remained determined despite his physical disadvantages.
“He has always been extremely disciplined in understanding and wanting to know what he is supposed to do so that he can perfect it and execute it better than anybody else,” says the elder Burroughs. “Then, when I take my dad hat off and look at him as a coach, his leadership and his attitude show that he is just a great kid with great character, and that makes him special. I think he creates a dynamic where most people who know him just come to love him.”
“Jeremiah has generally always been a little smaller, but he knows that even though he may be smaller, he is just as physical and just as good, which I think has fueled him and made him who he is today,” he continued.
Aside from football, Burroughs excels on and off the field. Being a student-athlete has its fair share of challenges in balancing athletics and academics. However, Burroughs has continued to prioritize his studies just as much as his athletics.
“It definitely is difficult to juggle both school and football, but it really is just a big-time management thing,” says Burroughs. “The commute after late practices to either my mother’s or father’s house, showering, getting homework done, and trying to get to bed as early as I can takes a toll throughout the year, especially with football going on.”
“But it all just comes down to the dedication I have and truly wanting to do whatever it takes to be able to reach the end goal, which is a state championship,” he added.
Tammi Jones, Burroughs’ mother, says that her son has always wanted to do his best, and that characteristic shines through just as much in the classroom as it does on the field.
“Jeremiah has been in all Advanced Placement classes, honors classes, and has had straight A’s his entire academic career, carrying an unweighted 3.96 GPA,” says Jones. “He is just as dedicated on the athletic side as he is on the academic side.”
Like many high school athletes, Burroughs has high hopes of furthering his football career after graduation and has been in conversation with a few schools that have piqued his interest. However, Burroughs is prepared for all outcomes and has begun to think about his life outside of football, in case he does not continue after high school.
“If I do end up playing football in college, it would probably be at one of the two schools I have been in contact with. I went to their camps over the summer and did fairly well, so I am now waiting for feedback from that,” says Burroughs.
“If I don’t end up getting an offer for football, then I will probably pursue fashion, and that is my main end goal in life,” continued Burroughs. “Whether it be the NFL or fashion, that has been a love of mine ever since I was very young. In terms of going a straight fashion route, my top choices are Savannah College of Art and Design, the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, or the Chicago Art Institute of Design.”
