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Callaway senior football star Karmelo Burton finally had his signing day on Friday as his high school career winds down. The standout cornerback announced that he will be playing football at Huntingdon starting in the fall.

“They offered me the opportunity to come up there and actually get playing time, which helped make it feel like the right fit,” Burton said. 

He will not have to travel far to get a chance to play at that next level as Huntingdon resides just up the road in Alabama. Playing so close to home where his family can attend some of his college games makes this even more special for Burton.

“It is going to be really special to see them come up,” Burton said. “It’s not far of a drive, only like an hour and 45 minutes, so I think everybody will be able to come up.”

Burton, never the biggest player on a football field, was worried when he was younger that this opportunity may never present itself. But once he got to high school, head coach Pete Wiggins and all the other coaches helped build his confidence. His confidence was sky high during his senior season when he practically blanketed half of the field. 

Despite his elite play on the gridiron, Burton still had to work to earn a college opportunity. With the help of Callaway recruiting coordinator Andrew Caraway, Burton was able to work his way through the recruiting process and find a place that he can truly call home. 

“He made everything easier,” Burton said. “He helped get my name out there and make sure I was seen by the people I needed to be seen by.”

It is a bittersweet moment for Burton, but he believes he is ready to move on and take the next step, taking everything he learned about football during his time at Callaway and taking it to the next level.

“We worked hard here,” Burton said. “The coaches make sure you are working hard. I had to fight through some adversity and injuries, but I’m going to remember the fun times the most.”

For some, graduating high school is the beginning of the end, but Burton has his sights set on making something of himself in the “real world” using that same determination and underdog mentality that made him such a viable asset to the football team and Callaway High as a whole. 

“I’m looking forward to all the excitement and fun I will have in college, but it’s also about getting me ready for the real world,” Burton said. “I really enjoyed my time here, but now, I’m ready for what the future holds.”