Angel Burciaga thought he had squandered his only opportunity to play football at the college level.

With his senior year of high school winding down, Burciaga had one last chance to keep his dream alive. After his plan to pursue a basketball scholarship fell through, and his offers to play football were slipping away, Burciaga contacted his recruiter for Elmhurst College, a program he ignored throughout the school year.

But the Bluejays were still interested in bringing the former Rochelle Township High School standout aboard, and after visiting the campus and talking with coaches, he was offered a spot on the football team.

Four years later, Burciaga is preparing for his final season at Elmhurst College, and he said he’s still grateful to receive an opportunity to play the game he loves.

“I was recruited to a couple schools for football, but none for basketball,” Burciaga said. “I had no idea what I wanted to study, where I wanted to go or how far I wanted to go… I had lost touch with the recruiter at Elmhurst. I wasn’t replying to any of his messages or his phone calls, but I called him one afternoon and I told him how I felt about football and how passionate I was for the game. Luckily, it wasn’t too late to apply, and I applied that day.”

Burciaga was initially recruited to play quarterback, but because he joined the team later than most of the other players, he found himself buried on the team’s depth chart. He spent his freshman season on the bench before transitioning to wide receiver his sophomore year in hopes of earning more playing time.

“Playing opportunities at the quarterback position were tough for me,” he said. “I didn’t know as much as I needed to know, and I was probably seventh on the depth chart. I wanted to get on the field, so next spring I was moved to slot receiver.”

But a thumb injury sidelined Burciaga just four games into his sophomore campaign, and the damage was severe enough to keep him out for the remainder of the season. He transferred from offense to defense prior to his junior year, and he’ll be competing for a starting safety spot when the Bluejays take the field this fall.

“It’s definitely very difficult to adjust, but I feel like I need to face that adversity,” he said. “I need an engine to keep me going, and my love of the game is what keeps me going. When you’re injured at the college level, you get put on the sideline at practice and all you can do is watch and take mental reps… I made the push to play defensive back and the coaches made it happen.”

Burciaga appeared in three games for the Bluejays last season, recording three total tackles including two tackles in Elmhurst’s 56-14 victory over Millikin University. The 6-foot, 170-pound senior safety said he’s looking to make a bigger impact on the field this season, and regardless of whether or not the Bluejays are successful this fall, he said he has cherished his experience at Elmhurst College.

“Football has made me into a better man,” he said. “I hold myself to a higher standard than others and I think that transitions into life… I take schoolwork a lot more serious than I did in high school because of football. It drains your body, but it keeps you motivated, and I feel like I’ve always had something internally that allows me to keep going.”

Burciaga said he’s studying to earn a degree in sports management, and he said he’s aiming to pursue a career in athletics once he graduates college. A three-sport athlete in high school, Burciaga has been around sports his whole life, and he doesn’t see that changing anytime soon.

“I love sports,” he said. “If I didn’t make the decision to come here, I don’t know if I would be in the position in my life that I’m in right now. I’m definitely thankful for the opportunity to play football. If it wasn’t for me being able to talk to teammates on the sideline or in the classroom, I wouldn’t have been able to break out of my shell. Football has prepared me to go out into the world, be responsible and contribute to the community.”