Russellville’s Harrison Burch signs with Kentucky Wesleyan College

Family, friends, coaches, and classmates filled the Touchdown Club atop the Russellville Field House for senior Golden Tiger quarterback Harrison Burch, who signed to play football for Kentucky Wesleyan College on Feb. 15.

Officially committed to the Panthers since May of 2023, Burch knew the day he put pen to paper would come, but that didn’t make the day any less momentous for him and his family.

“It doesn’t feel real,” Burch said. “Me and my family have put in a lot to get here, and it doesn’t feel real that this step has happened. But it means a lot to me, and I think it means even more to my family.

His name will be the one on this headline, but Burch was quick to show his appreciation for the selflessness of his family, which he said helped him get to where he is.

“They have sacrificed so much of their time, and if you ask them, they’re not sacrificing anything. That’s their attitude towards it,” he said. “They’re investing their time into me to make me a better man and a better football player.”

Burch, a two-year starter for the Golden Tigers, racked up a number of awards and honors for his on-field performances. He was a two-time All-Region and All-Area selection and was an All-State Honorable Mention in 2022. Burch threw for 1,766 yards and 15 touchdowns to just three interceptions his senior season. He finished his prep career with 4,290 passing yards, 42 touchdowns, and just seven interceptions. The 2023 team captain was also good on his feet and finished as the team’s second-leading rusher this past season.

Former Russellville head coach John Ritter, who won two 5A Region 8 championships with Burch under center, was in attendance at the signing ceremony and praised Burch for his ability, his work ethic, and his leadership.

“Every bit of credit that he got he deserved it because he earned it,” Ritter said. “What a hard-working kid and a good teammate. He was a very pivotal part of, you know, our success offensively which has been pretty doggone good the last few years.”

“He was a guy that held his teammates to a high standard, but at the same time he showed them love and appreciation. There’s a fine line you have to balance being a leader, and I thought he balanced that really well,” he added.

Ritter said Burch has all the intangibles necessary for him to thrive in the collegiate ranks.

“He’ll probably be very, very successful,” he said. “His football IQ is high, but he’s a smart and driven kid off the football field, too, which is important. He’ll make good decisions that’ll lead to results at the next level.”

Burch’s excellence at Russellville wasn’t limited to the field. He boasts a weighted grade-point average of 4.24, according to high school principal Jeremy Madden. Madden lauded Burch in front of his peers for his willingness to push himself in the classroom and take on advanced courses. Burch’s academic record sets a great example for all student-athletes hoping to advance to the college level, Madden said.

In today’s world of college football, the recruiting process can be extensive and time-consuming. It can be both exciting and stressful and sometimes just as competitive and chaotic as the actual games. Burch, in declaring his commitment to Kentucky Wesleyan last May, said the decision allowed him to better focus on his senior season without the distraction and noise that recruitment can create.

“The recruiting process is very tough for everyone. It was especially tough for me,” he said. “It most definitely took the pressure off of me.”

Why did Burch decide to take his talents to Kentucky Wesleyan? From the very beginning, Burch said, the coaching staff there made him feel comfortable and treated him as a person, not just a line on a roster.

“The main reason I committed is because of that coaching staff. They are phenomenal,” he said. “I think I found a home that really, really loves me for who I am. I’m not just a number on a sheet.”

Over the last few years Burch has been developing a connection with Kentucky Wesleyan head coach Tyrone Young, who also coaches the quarterbacks, and that relationship was also a key factor in his decision.

“I have been creating a bond with Coach Young ever since my sophomore summer,” Burch said. “He is just a great man. From everything I’ve seen he’s a Christian man, he fears God, and that is something I strive to be. So he’s just a really good role model.”

Soon enough Burch will be packing his bags for Owensboro, Kentucky, and he plans on bringing some of what he learned while wearing the black and gold of the Golden Tigers with him. A sense of work ethic will be in that metaphorical suitcase.

“The only person that beats you is you,” he said. “You get exactly what you put in, out. The workouts (at Russellville) are crazy hard, the conditioning is crazy hard, but you feel it in the fourth quarter.”

“You put in the work already and you know what you can do. You’re elevating your confidence level and your comfort level and whenever things go bad you can always fall back on that,” he added.

Perhaps another bit of Russellville, a school that traditionally holds its athletic programs to high standards, that Burch will carry with him are expectations. When asked what his expectations were for himself when he dons the purple and white this fall, Burch didn’t hedge:

“This might sound a little cocky, but I expect to start,” he said. “They’ve got some good quarterbacks, don’t get me wrong. I am very confident in my abilities as a human and a playmaker and a leader and I think that I can come in and make the team better. That’s why they recruited me, that’s why I’m here, so I expect to start.” 

A bit of swagger in a quarterback is not unheard of, after all.

College football fans will just have to wait another six months to see if Burch’s expectations become reality when Kentucky Wesleyan kicks off against Northern Michigan on Sept. 5.