Senior receiver Quentin Burrell chose Mount Carmel for multiple reasons. One was the allure of the football program. Another was the prestige that accompanies it. A Michigan recruit, Burrell travels daily from Evanston. Ann Arbor may hold his future, but his final year as a high school athlete is something to savor.
Burrell expressed his dedication, “I’m going to be in college soon, but right now, I have to play where my feet are and do the best things I can.” He added, “My life revolves around this building. I’m very glad that all the hard work is paying off.” His efforts were evident Friday night for the host Caravan. Burrell contributed four catches for 67 yards and a touchdown. This came during a 49-14 Catholic League crossover win over Providence in Chicago.
Quarterback Brady Cloherty also excelled, completing 25 of 33 passes for 373 yards and seven touchdowns. Junior tight end Jonathan Osborne scored on a 93-yard pass from Dominic Vita for Providence. Osborne made three catches for 155 yards. Vita threw for 218 yards. Meanwhile, Burrell’s 11-yard TD pass at the end of the second quarter secured a 28-14 halftime lead for the Caravan.
Junior receiver Marshaun Thornton praised Burrell, “He’s just a humble guy who goes out there and is always dependable. He doesn’t care if it’s me or anybody who’s eating. He’s always doing something positive.” Burrell shares Michigan recruitment honors with senior defensive back Tavares Harrington. They have played together since they were 13 years old with the Naperville Patriots.
Harrington shared his thoughts, “You wouldn’t expect Q to be Q. You see the things he does on the field and then you see him in school. He’s so personable. He introduces himself to everybody. You won’t find anybody who has a bad thing to say about him.” Burrell’s field work helped junior tight end Ty Kennedy achieve three TD catches. Thornton added a TD catch too.
Burrell commented on the team’s dynamics, “We have a lot of playmakers here, so we’re going to have to spread the ball around. We have a tight end balling, a QB doing everything we need. It’s everybody playing their part.” Family is significant in his life. His older sister, Kali, is his role model. She excelled in Michigan women’s soccer as a two-time academic all-conference forward.
Burrell stated, “My family has really raised me into this light. I wanted to be like my sister. There was always a little competition with her and I wanted to do something to one-up her.” Spending time on campus watching his sister set the stage for his future. Burrell chose the Wolverines over Notre Dame, Alabama, Auburn, and Boston College.
In eighth grade, Burrell almost quit football to focus on basketball. His father encouraged him to continue. Now, he’s a three-year starter with two state championship rings. During his first two seasons, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Burrell set records with 142 catches and 2,396 yards. He scored 34 touchdowns, showcasing size, length, and a sharp game sense.
Burrell stated, “I came into the varsity my sophomore year and we won state and I’m trying to leave as a senior winning state. I know my journey is ahead, but I have to keep getting better every day.” Burrell only played the first half on Friday, paving the way for senior receiver Danny Leyden to score in the third quarter.
Burrell remarked, “There’s nothing more I could ask for than being with my guys. I know there’s a limited amount of time that I’m going to be with them. I’m cheering everything and being grateful.”