PAHOKEE — Frankie Burgess, a standout graduate of Pahokee High School, now wears No. 99 as a hard-hitting freshman linebacker for the University of Maryland Terrapins.

His coaches at PHS, and the mentors and helpers at the Student ACES Center in Belle Glade, back on his home turf of Palm Beach County, are keeping an eye on his future as it is unfolding.

The former Blue Devils standout has been having a great workout with the rest of the 2021 Terrapins. The 6-foot-2, 225-pounder has been garnering attention in Maryland as well.

Among the names on the 2020 football roster, reported Inside MD Sports:

“One freshman impressing is linebacker Frankie Burgess. He’s got great size at 6-2, 225 pounds, and should get onto the field this season. ‘Great kid, works hard, you won’t find a better guy,’ a source said.”

Before enrolling at Maryland, Burgess’s local high marks included being named the 2019 Sun Sentinel “Defensive Player of the Year.” That year he tallied 60 tackles (39 solo), three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries for Pahokee High School in his senior season. He led in Florida with 22 sacks in 2019, and chose Maryland over the University of South Florida and Washington State University.

Burgess is the son of Frankie Burgess and Tamara Dowdell. He has two siblings, Braylin, 8, and Travis Atkins, 5. Burgess lists his sports hero as Penny Hardaway, loves playing basketball, and his favorite pregame meal is soft tacos.

Jamie Levin, a member of the board of Student ACES, singled Frankie out for recognition, as Burgess attends her own alma mater. “Frankie was a Student ACES Champion of Character,” she said.

Levin is vice president for corporate communications of TBC Corp., parent company of Tire Kingdom, which is a major sponsor of the Student ACES Center and established a computer lab at the Belle Glade location.

To learn more about this educational support foundation, based in Palm Beach Gardens, go online to studentacesforleadership.com.