(Christopher Kamrani | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah kicker Matt Gay is congratulated by running back Armand Shyne after Gay drilled a game-winning 57-yard field goal to win Utah's Red-White game Saturday afternoon at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Terrell Burgess wanted his own personal review.
He had a front-row seat to a last-minute two-point conversion by teammate Jaylen Dixon in Saturday’s Red-White game at Rice-Eccles Stadium, a somewhat controversial snag that put the White squad up 23-22 with 33 seconds left on the clock.
So right there, the junior defensive back found Utah’s video equipment guy, and asked for a replay.
The call stood, but one of Utah’s several key returners in what might be its most talented defensive back group ever stood nearby as the camera rewound and played it back.
“I don’t think he caught it clean, to be honest,” Burgess said.
In the end, Burgess was part of the swarm of red sprinting around in circles on the home turf, celebrating Matt Gay’s 57-yard field goal as time expired. Burgess is all smiles heading into the summer and fall camp. The junior from San Marcos, Calif., will be called upon to step into any number of positions next season having learned the ins-and-outs of cornerback, nickel back, and now, free safety.
“Everybody in the secondary can play,” he said, “so we’re definitely going to battle to see who‘s going to go with the 1’s, go with the 2’s, but we can all play. It’s going to be a battle in fall camp.”
(Christopher Kamrani | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah defensive back Terrell Burgess is mobbed by teammates after making an interception in Utah's Red-White game Saturday afternoon at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Burgess, who finished with a team-high six tackles as well as an interception that he nearly returned for a touchdown in the Red-White game Saturday, is out to be atop the position battle. When he first got to Utah, he was a cornerback, then was briefly moved to receiver, before being moved back to corner and is now going to contend for one of two starting safety spots.
“It’s a blessing and a curse, to be honest, because you can play any position so you don’t have to start,” he said. “ It’s good, but sometimes, I wish I could just be at one position.”
Utah coach Kyle Whittingham thinks Burgess, who played in all 13 games a year ago, can make some noise next season.
“He’s an intelligent kid, he’s got an extremely high football IQ,” Whittingham said. “The move seemed to be a natural for him. You saw him out there make an interception, almost took it to the house, so he’s a guy that gives us another really good player at the safety position.”