Steele Burd has long dreamed of playing for Clemson.
Burd (Hilton Head Prep) committed to the Tigers in July of 2022, just after the hiring of Erik Bakich and now that his high school career has ended, the catcher is set to report to campus next Sunday as a member of the newest recruiting class.
Burd loved watching Bakich celebrate Clemson’s first regional win since 2010 with the fans. Although, watching how the head coach reacted to what transpired in the Tigers’ Super Regional loss to Florida a week later, just reinforces Burd’s belief that Bakich continuously proves that he will always have the backs of his players.
“I was watching the game on my living room couch, and I’m telling you right now, if you are a sports fan or a baseball player, and that doesn’t get you fired up, I don’t know what will. I got chills thinking about it,” Burd told The Clemson Insider. “When I started talking to (Bakich) and creating a personal relationship with him and coach Schnabel and the rest of the staff, I knew that’s who I wanted to play for. I will put everything on the line for Coach EB. When I see how he treats his players and how he runs that program over there, I mean, it’s unbelievable. I’m so excited to get up there.”
Burd is the nephew of former Clemson standout Shane Monahan, who was a member of Jack Leggett’s first recruiting class in 1994, and a key part of Leggett’s first College World Series team in 1995. Monahan was the first player in ACC history to be named league MVP, MVP of the ACC Tournament, MVP of an NCAA Regional, and a first-team All-American over his career. He still holds multiple Clemson records to this day. Burd also spent several years playing for Monahan on the travel ball circuit.
“I’ve always grown up a Tigers fan,” Burd said. “We’re originally from Atlanta, Georgia, so my mom was always a Georgia fan, but my uncle played at Clemson. So we’ve always had some Tiger fans. And I visited up there a few times, been up there for a few football games growing up, and then I knew after my uncle, Shane, played there and had three super, super successful years there, I wanted follow in his footsteps, and that’s where I wanted to be.”
Being a relative of Monahan’s, Burd is familiar with the standard in place at Clemson. However, that doesn’t mean there is any added pressure. Burd already has a standard in place for himself, and it’s extremely high.
“I don’t look at it as any added pressure,” Burd said. “It’s a blessing. I’m one of four kids in our family, and my sister is a D1 swimmer at South Carolina. So it just runs in the family. My little brother is going to get to play somewhere eventually. He’s just a sophomore, so he’s still pretty young.”
“We just have a super, super long lineage of professional athletes. Between hockey, boxing, golf, basketball, we just got a lot of athletes on my mom’s side of the family. And now it’s just part of it. Growing up, we’ve always had high expectations. So I don’t look at it as any added pressure. Like I said, it’s a blessing to have that pressure and to be able to follow along and be able to continue the lineage of, hopefully, professional athletes and so far being a college athlete.”
After having been committed for close to two years, the wait is now almost over, and Burd is anxious to get to work for his new, fiery head coach.
“He’s unbelievable. Unbelievable to watch,” Burd said about Bakich. “So much fun, and I can’t wait. I’m stoked to get up there and be able to play for him.”
Photo courtesy of Steele Burd
A limited number of signed footballs from Clemson’s 2022 class are still available. Get yours while supplies last! Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!
