By Angie Ledbetter

Marvin Burdette, a former South Panola standout, is continuing his accomplishments on the collegiate football field.

Burdette a 5’11”, 230-pound sophomore linebacker for the University of Alabama at Birmingham Blazers recently received the defensive most valuable player award for the team.

He was listed as the No. 1 linebacker entering fall practice. He had an outstanding 2010 season and has become one of the best linebackers in conference USA.

The Batesville native led the UAB team in tackles with 114.

“This award really does mean a lot to me,” said Burdette. “It goes to show that I’ve earned my goals of becoming a leader on defense and trying to bring on good things. It shows my hard work that I tried for that goal.”

 Burdette was also named to the 2010 All-Conference USA honorable mention list on defense. He was ranked No. 5 in Conference USA on defense averaging 9.5 tackles overall and 11.1 tackles in conference games only. The 11.1 tackles ranked him third among league defenders.

In four games Burdette registered double digit tackles including a career high 20 against Marshall and 17 in the last game of the season against Rice.

“It wasn’t really that hard,” Burdette said. “I went out on the field with the mentality that I was going to play as hard as I could every game. I was trying to improve myself.

“A lot of those times I was thinking about the record that was held with 21 tackles in one game,” he continued. “I always thought in the back of my head I could beat that. Every game I tried to beat that and it came out for the best on my side plus it always helped me to try to get close to my goal which was to try and help the team the best way I could.”

Burdette is the son of Marvin and Brenda Burdette of Batesville.