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ScoutingOhio.com Hall of Fame
Prescott Burgess
Warren Harding Class of 2003
Michigan
By David Baugh
While many figured that he would play linebacker in
college, you won’t find too many strong safeties that
are/were as solid as Prescott Burgess was in high
school. At 6'3, 225 pounds, Burgess was one of the
most sought after prospects in the country for the
class of 2003. He was a solid tackler and he defended
the pass very well. His sophomore season in 2000 was
his first year playing organized football, but Burgess
picked things up very quickly as he took home Second
Team All Ohio honors. In his junior season in 2001,
he led his team in tackles with 88 (53 solo, 35
assists) while adding 3 interceptions, returning one
of those for a touchdown. As impressive as those
stats are, one of the most memorable plays that season
came in the fourth quarter of the 2001 Regional Final
against Cleveland St. Ignatius. On the play, he skied
to bat down a pass from Ignatius quarterback Nate
Czep, drawing a huge reaction from the crowd. This
time around, Burgess’ efforts earned him First Team
All Ohio honors.
Due to his standout seasons in his sophomore and
junior years, Burgess was a preseason favorite to win
the 2002 Mr. Football Award, an honor won the year
before by his former teammate Maurice Clarett.
Historically, there had never been two different
players from the same team to win the award in back to
back years (Euclid’s Robert Smith won the award in
1988 & 1989), not to mention that there had only been
one defensive player to win the award (Westerville
South’s Andy Katzenmoyer in 1995), but Burgess was
definitely good enough to make a run for the honor.
Unfortunately, he was slowed by injuries his senior
season, so winning Mr. Football was out of the
question. His absence forced Warren Harding to
establish depth in the secondary, a task at which they
were successful. When Burgess was healthy, the
Raiders had even more depth at strong safety, which
kept the secondary fresh as the playoffs rolled
around. The Raiders made it all the way to the state
championship game against Cincinnati Elder. Despite
losing their only game of the year by the score of
21-19, Burgess showed spectators why he was so highly
regarded as he registered several stops for the
Raiders.
Even though injuries didn’t allow Burgess to play too
much his senior season, he was still selected to play
in the 2003 U.S. Army All American Bowl in San
Antonio, Texas. Several schools such as Ohio State,
Michigan, Tennessee, and Notre Dame watched the game
in anticipation as Burgess was expected to officially
verbal some time during the game. Then, during the
second quarter, he broke the ice when he became the
Michigan Wolverines’ fourteenth commit for the class
of 2003. The East got off to a fast start on both
sides of the ball, which included an early
interception by Burgess, as they defeated the West
47-3.
While many figured that he would play linebacker in
college, you won’t find too many strong safeties that
are/were as solid as Prescott Burgess was in high
school. At 6'3, 225 pounds, Burgess was one of the
most sought after prospects in the country for the
class of 2003. He was a solid tackler and he defended
the pass very well. His sophomore season in 2000 was
his first year playing organized football, but Burgess
picked things up very quickly as he took home Second
Team All Ohio honors. In his junior season in 2001,
he led his team in tackles with 88 (53 solo, 35
assists) while adding 3 interceptions, returning one
of those for a touchdown. As impressive as those
stats are, one of the most memorable plays that season
came in the fourth quarter of the 2001 Regional Final
against Cleveland St. Ignatius. On the play, he skied
to bat down a pass from Ignatius quarterback Nate
Czep, drawing a huge reaction from the crowd. This
time around, Burgess’ efforts earned him First Team
All Ohio honors.
Due to his standout seasons in his sophomore and
junior years, Burgess was a preseason favorite to win
the 2002 Mr. Football Award, an honor won the year
before by his former teammate Maurice Clarett.
Historically, there had never been two different
players from the same team to win the award in back to
back years (Euclid’s Robert Smith won the award in
1988 & 1989), not to mention that there had only been
one defensive player to win the award (Westerville
South’s Andy Katzenmoyer in 1995), but Burgess was
definitely good enough to make a run for the honor.
Unfortunately, he was slowed by injuries his senior
season, so winning Mr. Football was out of the
question. His absence forced Warren Harding to
establish depth in the secondary, a task at which they
were successful. When Burgess was healthy, the
Raiders had even more depth at strong safety, which
kept the secondary fresh as the playoffs rolled
around. The Raiders made it all the way to the state
championship game against Cincinnati Elder. Despite
losing their only game of the year by the score of
21-19, Burgess showed spectators why he was so highly
regarded as he registered several stops for the
Raiders.
Even though injuries didn’t allow Burgess to play too
much his senior season, he was still selected to play
in the 2003 U.S. Army All American Bowl in San
Antonio, Texas. Several schools such as Ohio State,
Michigan, Tennessee, and Notre Dame watched the game
in anticipation as Burgess was expected to officially
verbal some time during the game. Then, during the
second quarter, he broke the ice when he became the
Michigan Wolverines’ fourteenth commit for the class
of 2003. The East got off to a fast start on both
sides of the ball, which included an early
interception by Burgess, as they defeated the West
47-3.