Dec. 6, 2016
THE FLATS – Georgia Tech’s Freddie Burden is the lone center on ESPN.com’s 25-player all-ACC team, which was unveiled on Tuesday.
A three-year starter, Burden is the anchor of a Georgia Tech offensive line that has paved the way for the Yellow Jackets to lead the ACC and rank 10th nationally in rushing offense at 257.4 yards per game this season. He made 11 starts at center during the regular season (missing one game due to injury) and was named the ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week after taking eight defenders to the ground while the Jackets rushed for 289 yards and amassed 511 yards of total offense in a 38-7 win over Vanderbilt on Sept. 17.
ESPN.com only selects a first team for its annual all-ACC squad — 11 offensive players, 11 defensive players and three specialists. In tabbing Burden as its all-ACC center, ESPN college football writer David M. Hale wrote, “Burden was the anchor of a dramatically improved Georgia Tech offensive line that proved to be the key cog in a big turnaround season for the Yellow Jackets.”
Burden will be in contention for more all-conference recognition this week, as the Associated Press is slated to announce its all-ACC team on Wednesday and the ACC coaches’ all-conference honors will be unveiled on Thursday.
Burden and Georgia Tech (8-4) will wrap up their season on Saturday, Dec. 31 when they face Kentucky (7-5) in the TaxSlayer Bowl in Jacksonville, Fla. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. at Jacksonville’s EverBank Field.
Georgia Tech tickets and travel packages for the TaxSlayer Bowl are on sale now. Yellow Jackets faithful planning to attend the game are urged to support Georgia Tech and ensure the opportunity to sit and travel with other Tech fans by purchasing tickets and travel packages at togetherweswarm.com/bowl.
