NFL training camps are not only meant to bring a team together and have players learn the playbook, but it also gives players who aren't guaranteed a starting role or roster spot the opportunity to prove why they belong.
In 2020, players have an even shorter amount of time to do that with no preseason games due to COVID-19, but through three weeks of camp, Carolina Panthers safety Juston Burris has been one of the guys to use camp to prove he belongs.
"I would say one of the unsung heroes of camp, one of the guys that we signed and I thought he was going to be good, but I just love his work ethic and attention to detail is Juston Burris," Panthers head coach Matt Rhule said on Saturday. "I mean, he’s exactly the type of guy that I want to build this thing around. Tough, fast, explosive, and versatile. He plays really loudly, he plays on special teams, he doesn’t complain. ...
"He’s been one of the guys this camp that you say to yourself, ‘Man, we got to keep this guy out here and really let him have an effect on the entire franchise.'”
Burris, a former N.C. State player, signed a one-year deal with the Panthers this offseason, following his best season as a pro with the Cleveland Browns in 2019, and returning to his home state of North Carolina has given him the chance to take the next step in his career.
"I think coach Rhule has really been pushing me to become more of a leader and more vocal," Burris said. "I'm a guy who doesn't talk too much, especially compared to other guys on the team who have that vocal, leadership experience, and I think he's trying to pull that out of me. As far as his praise, I really appreciate that and there's still a long way to go and everybody is still learning exactly what he wants. ... I'm just trying to abide by that."
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With a little over two weeks until the Panthers open the season against the Las Vegas Raiders, it looks as Burris is in the lead for the starting strong safety position alongside Tre Boston at free safety.
Up until 2019, when Burris started nine of his 14 games for the Browns, Burris had only started two games in his first three seasons in the league.
Burris had a career-high 32 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions and 7 pass deflections last year.
Being a starter has helped carry over to his new team in Carolina.
"I think it just gave me validation," Burris said. "Not at all do I think I've arrived at all. I'm still working hard and I'm hungry and humble and grateful to be here. But I think it gave validation into my mind and others that I'm supposed to be here and I deserve to be here. I'm going to keep working to stay here. I always knew I could play in this league and be a guy that the team can counted on and I just had to go out and prove it and show it.
"Last year, I was able to do that and I'm just trying to do it even better this year. Do it 10 times better than last year and just keep improving and help the Carolina Panthers win."
The former 2016 fourth-round pick has also realized that nothing in the NFL comes easy.
"The biggest thing I learned is don't take a rep for granted. Don't take a game or anything for granted," Burris said. "I was in a situation last year where I wasn't really counted on in the beginning. Nobody thought I would be there and I just kept grinding everyday to impress the coaches and the front office staff to earn a spot on the team. That just showed me you have to take everyday and run with it and do your best."
That type of mindset is the reason Burris has been called the "unsung hero" of training camp so far, and if he continues to do that, he should have a big impact on the Panthers.
"I'm a new guy coming into this but I want to have that same mentality and bring the same mindset that they (the secondary) did last year and go out and get the ball," Burris said.
