CLEMSON – Though located just over an hour from Soldier Field in Chicago, the 2018 Crystal Lake Raiders were no Chicago Bears. 

Unlike the Bears, who finished first in the NFC North that season, the Northeast Ill., based middle school football team with an AFC West namesake was just “okay” that year, according to program alumnus Andy Burburija.

“I mean, we were 11, 12 years old,” Burburija said, recalling the squad with a laugh. “We were okay. We were all right. We were fine. It wasn’t that good.”

Like all middle school football teams sadly do, the Raiders disbanded after 2018. A couple years later, Burburija headed off to nearby Crystal Lake South High School, where he went on to earn all-state honors as a senior and finish as the state’s wrestling runner-up.

After his days as a Raider, the defensive tackle went on to become much more than just “alright.” He recorded 22 tackles for loss, six sacks and two fumble recoveries in his final high school season, using his 6-foot-2, violent frame to punish opposing offensive linemen.

“When I was in middle school, kind of going from there, I wasn’t really a physical kid,” Burburija said. “And then my mindset changed when I was in freshman year of high school. And at that point, I was like, this is almost like a fight. I mean, you’re out there getting pretty physical. You’re getting cuts, bleeding, sweating, you know, it’s pretty much a fight. So, my mindset changed during that time. Ever since that point, during football, I love the violent part.”

Meanwhile, Christian Bentancur, who played receiver and linebacker for the same Raiders team, attended Marian Central Catholic High School. By the end of his career, and a switch to tight end, Bentancur finished in the top-five in state history in receiving yards, touchdowns and receptions.

After being rated the No. 3 tight end in the nation by ESPN, the 6-foot-4 athlete committed to Clemson in 2023.

“Christian’s a complete player,” head coach Dabo Swinney said of the tight end. “He’s big, he’s strong, he can run. He’s learned what to do. He doesn’t make a lot of mistakes.”

Looking back, with those two players on the squad, the Crystal Lake Raiders probably should have been better than just “fine.” But that’s sixth grade football for you.

While Bentancur played his first two seasons with the Tigers, catching 20 passes for 222 yards and three touchdowns in 2025, Burburija pounded his way through the Junior College ranks, accumulating 27.5 tackles for loss, 14.0 sacks and a forced fumble in two seasons at Iowa Western Community College. His first-team All-NJCAA honors helped the Reviers to a national championship last season.

After his successful sophomore campaign, Burburija was in the market for a Power 4 opportunity.  The Tigers, coincidentally, were in the market for a defensive tackle after losing All-American Peter Woods to the NFL Draft, Kourtney Kelly to an ACL tear, and Hevin Brown-Shuler to a shocking cancer diagnosis.

The mutual desires collided one night when the JUCO product received a facetime call from Swinney, who was watching portal highlight tapes with his assistant coaches.

“We got you highlighted at the top here, so I’m going to watch your film,” Swinney told a shocked Burburija. “I’m going to see how you do.” 

It was a surreal moment for Burburija, who knew of Swinney and Clemson from the Tigers’ national championship runs from 2015-20. His excitement, however, was tempered with a very real concern.

“I was so nervous because I didn’t know how he’s going to react to (my film),” Burburija said. “But no, it was great. I was so hyped. I told my mom and dad. They were like they were losing their minds. My mom started crying.”

Sure enough, Swinney liked what he saw. 

The veteran coach appreciated Burburija’s heavy, violent hands– his ability to narrow a quarterback’s pocket and shut down a promising run. With “tree trunk legs”–a term coined by linebacker Sammy Brown and echoed by multiple players since–and a 305-pound frame, Swinney liked Burburija’s tape enough to offer him Clemson’s inaugural JUCO offer.

“I just like who (Burburija) is and how he handles himself,” Swinney said. “You just kinda know when guys, they get in their system and they get plugged in, and you just kind of see how they’re wired by how they buy into things, and then what you hear from the players – game knows game.”

A few days after the initial conversation, the Tigers’ leader even piped in a facetime recruiting call from Bentancur, his middle school teammate, to seal the deal. 

Middle school ties run deep.

“It’s a small world,” Burburija said with a smile, six months after committing to Clemson.

Now, Burburija will be tasked with stepping up to the Power 4 competition ahead of the 2026 season. Down 17 pounds of fat and up 10 pounds of muscle since his arrival to Clemson, the rising junior is off to a strong start, according to his fellow defensive transfer Markus Strong.

“When it comes to his power, nobody can really mess with him,” Strong said. “So, I feel like if he comes out, there ain’t much you can do. Having him play beside you is amazing. It’s honestly amazing. Have you seen legs like his before? Absolutely not.”

Burburija will get his first shot against stout competition in a few weeks, when Clemson opens its season against LSU at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La., on Sept. 5. 

Like any good Raider, Burburija is not scared of the challenge.

“I’m getting ready to grind and to go whoop some LSU [butt],” he said.