GULF SHORES — From chemotherapy to the practice field, Gulf Shores offensive lineman Tyler Burkett is back in the building.
Not long after the Dolphins were crowned Class 5A state champions on Dec. 7, 2023, Burkett got word that a biopsy from a bump in his neck was positive for Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. But after months of treatment starting in February, Burkett has returned to the locker room to begin preparations for his senior season.
He said it was football that helped make chemotherapy more manageable and that making it back to practice was his biggest goal.
“I would just sit there and watch the state championship game like every day,” Burkett said before Wednesday’s practice. “Because they said, ‘We don't know if you'll ever play again,’ and I was like I can't do that. I'd rather just do chemo when I'm done with high school and try to push it off. … That’s how much I love football.”
Surprise party marked start of return
But with the support of his friends and family, he underwent treatment and had his chemo port removed last Friday. He has been welcomed back with open arms, including a surprise party thrown by his teammates, but his presence on the practice field alone has been noticed by Gulf Shores offensive line coach Mitch Rodrigue.
“The team loves him, and they love to see him work,” Rodrigue said after Wednesday’s practice. “It kind of gives them a boost when he's out here and makes them feel like, ‘Hey, I better not take football for granted. It could be taken away from us at any time.’”
Dolphin head football coach Mark Hudspeth agreed it has been inspiring to see him back around the team.
“It's been a dream of his to play his senior year and maybe have opportunities after high school,” Hudspeth said after practice. “He's been through so much, and he has handled it with such grace and class; just proud for him. Our coaches and teammates have been praying for him all year.”
Back to Square 1
While he isn’t in pads yet, Burkett has been working with strength and conditioning coach Derick Atchley on building his stamina back up.
“I gotta run. I have to get in shape. But Coach Grizz is helping out a lot,” Burkett said of Atchley. “When I get out there, I want to be ready to help and contribute.”
Although the chemotherapy knocked him down a peg physically, he was never far away from his family.
“They just sat there with me. And it's eight hours in one day, just sitting there; I wouldn't think they would want to do it,” Burkett said. “My last one, everybody was there. My whole family was there: my mom, my cousin, my grandma, my grandpa, both my little sisters and my girlfriend were there.”
A special player-coach relationship
Not only them, but Burkett’s teammates and coaches from Gulf Shores were also cheering him on from the sidelines. However, the relationship with his position coach might have been the strongest.
“He would text me every day, call me; everything,” Burkett said of Rodrigue. “Ever since he came here, I feel like we have gotten the closest. In a game, it feels like he's coaching and I'm trying to be a little coach behind him. Because that's probably what I want to do when I grow up, is be a coach and I really look up to him.”
Rodrigue concurred Burkett is a special athlete and his desire to return says a lot about his character.
“I love Tyler. We've been through a lot together, he confides in me and I try to help him every way I can and I appreciate our relationship,” Rodrigue said. “All of these kids are like sons to me, especially since my family's all grown and moved away. We put our arms around them and we love them, and hopefully they grow up be good young men.”
First test upcoming
Those student-athletes’ first on-field test will come at Mickey Miller Blackwell Stadium when the Choctawhatchee Indians come from Florida to visit the Dolphins to kick off the regular season on Friday. Hudspeth said the coaches will learn a lot from the season opener.
“They're an outstanding team. They've already got a game under their belt with a jamboree, so they've already played one game. We will have to adjust to the speed of the game,” Hudspeth said of Choctawhatchee. “We're a young team. I'm anxious to see how we do; we don't lack for excitement, and we don't lack for enthusiasm.”
Money quotes
“I was thinking, ‘Next play, this is just one play,’” Burkett said of each chemo session. “I can't lie, it's amazing. It feels great to be back.”
“He has a lot of guts, a lot of spirit. He loves to play football, he's been persevering through a lot of adversity the whole eight months,” Rodrigue said. “He's proven that he wants to play football, he loves to play football, he's a teammate and he wants to be around his team.”
“He was gone so long with chemo and not allowed to be at school, that had to be a lonely time for him, and for anybody,” Hudspeth said. “He's handled it so well. It's just real heartwarming when you see a kid like that get some good news.”
This story was sent out as a GCM Text Alert. To sign up for free, go to www.gulfcoastmedia.com/text and receive breaking news, top stories and local deals and promotions. GCM Text Alerts is made possible by launch partners Original Oyster House and Vallarta Mexican Restaurant.
