Indiana’s class of 2021 took a step back on Wednesday.
Auburndale, Fla. safety Aubrey Burks announced that he was backing out of his verbal pledge to IU.
“I would like to thank the whole coaching staff for giving me and opportunity to be a student athlete at Indiana University,” Burks wrote on his Twitter page. “Coach Allen, Coach Teegardin and the rest of the coaching staff does believe in me and I do believe I can be a difference maker in their program, also with the community of Bloomington. Decisions like this are not always easy but I pray God will guide me in the right direction as I make the right decision to determine my future! I would like to announce that I will be de-committing from Indiana University.”
Recruits that decommit rarely go back to their original school of choice, but Burks left the door open with IU.
“No love lost for Indiana, they will still be a top school for me, but it is best for me to open back up my recruitment and evaluate all of my options,” Burks said.
https://twitter.com/aubreyburks14/status/1306256613167247360?s=20
The 6-foot and 195 pounds Burks also played outside linebacker in high school and he projected to the husky position in IU’s 4-2-5 scheme.
Indiana has commitments from two other safeties in the 2021 class — Maurice Freeman from Virginia and Jordan Grier from Georgia. The Hoosiers were already looking for one more defensive back in what will be a relatively small class. IU now might look to add two more defensive backs and four or five more players overall.
In 2019 Burks recorded 63 tackles including 17 for a loss and 6 sacks for Auburndale High School. He also forced three fumbles, recovering two, and had two interceptions. Burks scored twice from the defensive side of the football.
Burks was named The Ledger first time All-County (Polk) as a linebacker. He started his high school career at IMG Academy before transferring to Auburndale.
Burks is a three-star recruit. According to the 247Sports Composite, he is the No. 787 player overall and the No. 60 safety nationally in the class of 2021.
Burks chose Indiana over a list of primary suitors that included Louisville, Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, South Florida, Mississippi State and West Virginia. In total Burks had more than 30 offers. South Florida was the favorite before Burks surprised and choice IU in June.
Burks is the second member of the 2021 class to decommit from IU. Elkhart, Ind. defensive lineman Rodney McGraw had a change of heart as well and is now a Penn State verbal commit.
Indiana now has 13 commits in the class. To learn more about that group as well as where IU stands in the team rankings, GO HERE.
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