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When Braxton Burmeister transferred to Virginia Tech three years ago, the Hokies knew they were getting a former four-star prospect who was the very definition of a dual-threat quarterback.
Burmeister came onto the scene last season, leading the Hokies to a dominant win over N.C. State in the season opener. Burmeister didn’t need to throw the ball much, but when he did, he was effective. He also showed how impressive he was as a runner too.
Over the course of the season, Burmeister would start four games for the Hokies, going 3-1. He started the season finale against Virginia and led Virginia Tech to a blowout win over the Cavaliers.
In the offseason, a pair of other former four-star passers transferred. Quincy Patterson and Hendon Hooker landed at North Dakota State and Tennessee, respectively, while Burmeister chose to finish his career in Blacksburg.
The Hokies have experienced weapons returning on offense in 2021 and believe Burmeister can have a big year — if he remains healthy.
Over the summer, Tech’s players posted the top 10 speeds of summer workouts, and Burmeister was tops on the list. And the Hokies have plenty of speedsters.
This week, the respected Bruce Feldman of The Athletic released his annual “Freaks” list, and Burmeister is the latest Hokie to make the list. He came in at No. 93. This is from Feldman:
The Oregon transfer, the son of a former UNC linebacker, is 3-1 as a starting quarterback. The 6-1, 206-pound Californian has always been known for his wheels, and he rushed for 182 yards and two touchdowns in 2020, but it was word that he clocked the fastest GPS time on the team this summer that is adding to the intrigue. His 22.53 MPH is impressive. For context, Jaden Payoute, a guy who vertical jumps 42 inches and ran a 10.67 100 meters in high school, topped out at 22.03.
His coach, Justin Fuente, isn’t surprised that Burmeister had the fastest time.
“This is an elite athlete,” Fuente said. “He just looks like the people I’m watching on television in the Olympics. He’s ripped to shreds. He’s got veins in his abs. He jumps out of the gym. He’s strong. He’s not a tall-statured person, but he is strong. He can do everything that elite athletes can do: He can run, jump and has strength.”
Let’s hope we see a healthy Burmeister in 2021. That would mean fewer quarterback runs, which must happen this fall if Burmeister is going to stay healthy.