PREP FOOTBALL: Cold Springs’ Burgess signs with Huntingdon

Lawson Burgess will continue his football career at Huntingdon College.

The Cold Springs senior signed a national letter of intent on Wednesday — he was joined by family, friends, teammates, coaches and administrators inside the high school gymnasium — and is set to join the Division III Hawks and coach Mike Turk this fall.

Burgess is thrilled about the opportunity and plans to make the most of it.

“I’m really excited,” he said. “I just want to play when I get down there. I want to get some playing time. And having all my family and friends here, it meant everything to me.”

Burgess helped lead Cold Springs to the Class 2A playoffs this past season.

He played tight end — he was a first-team All-County and second-team All-Area selection — and linebacker for coach Rod Elliott and the Blue and Gold.

Burgess said he’ll play slot receiver at the next level.

“I’m just real happy and pleased for him,” Elliott said. “He’s a great player and an even better kid. We leaned on him hard for leadership last season, and he seemed to come through every time.”

Huntingdon won the USA South Conference title last season en route to an 8-4 record.

The Hawks were aided by a pair of former Cullman County standouts in Holly Pond’s Michael Lambert and West Point’s Kobe Smith.

Burgess is hoping to make a similar impact.

“I hope I can,” he said. “I hope I can pick up where those guys left off for Cullman County.”

That said, he’ll cherish his time spent at Cold Springs.

“I’m really going to miss my coaches and my friends,” he said. “I love those guys. I’m going to miss the bond with all of them. I’m also going to miss my quarterback, Brodi Williams. He’s one of a kind.”