VALDOSTA — Updated at 7:35 a.m. Three days after winning the national championship, the Valdosta State football team was supposed to receive a visit from a touted offensive line prospect.
Butler Community College’s Zach Burkhart was scheduled visit the Blazer coaching staff in Valdosta today, according to Keith Niehbuhr of 247sports.com.
Instead, Burkhart will visit with the Blazers following the Christmas holiday.
Recently offered by Eastern Michigan, Burkhart, a 6-foot-3, 292-pound center, went out of his way to make a visit at Valdosta State, likely because of the success that former Butler players Harrison Drieling and Ryan Schraeder had with the Blazers the past few seasons.
Burkhart was the Grizzlies’ center in 2011-12, helping anchor a line that made a run to the NJCAA National Championship Game this season.
Valdosta State won the Division II national championship last Saturday with a 35-7 win over Winston-Salem State. A senior laden offensive line, consisting of Schraeder, led the Blazers.
Now, the Blazers are in desperate need of replacements to fill the giant void left by the 2012 offensive line.
Burkhart could be that option.
