UAB star edge rusher Chris Burge stays put, eyes sack record

Burge turned down transfer offers to build something special with the Blazers in 2026.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 7:04pm

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting an edge rusher making a sack, with the player's body and the football field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in UAB's green and gold colors.UAB's revamped defensive line, led by edge rusher Chris Burge, aims to shatter the program's single-season sack record in 2026.Today in Birmingham

After leading UAB in sacks last season, star edge rusher Chris Burge decided to stay with the Blazers instead of entering the transfer portal. Burge, a Birmingham native, was drawn to the program's renewed focus on building a strong defensive line under new defensive coordinator Todd Grantham. Burge and the Blazers have their sights set on the team's single-season sack record of 38, which was set in 2018.

Why it matters

Retaining Burge is a major boost for UAB's defense, which struggled to generate consistent pressure last season. With Grantham's aggressive blitzing scheme and an influx of new pass rushers, the Blazers are poised to be much more disruptive in 2026. Burge's decision to stay also demonstrates his commitment to the program and the Birmingham community.

The details

Burge led UAB with 3.5 sacks and a team-high 17 quarterback pressures last season. He turned down offers to enter the transfer portal this offseason, citing his desire to help the Blazers 'change the culture' under new head coach Alex Mortensen. Burge will be a key part of Grantham's defense, which features more movement and blitzing than the Blazers' previous scheme. Along with fellow returners J'Qaun Mason and Blance Golde, as well as several new transfers, UAB believes it has assembled one of the best edge rushing units in the program's history.

  • Burge led UAB in sacks and pressures during the 2025 season.
  • Burge turned down transfer offers this offseason.
  • UAB began spring practices on March 25, 2026.

The players

Chris Burge

A redshirt sophomore edge rusher who led UAB in sacks and quarterback pressures last season. Burge is a Birmingham native who decided to stay with the Blazers instead of entering the transfer portal.

Alex Mortensen

The head coach of the UAB Blazers, who is focused on rebuilding the program's defensive line and pass rush.

Todd Grantham

UAB's new defensive coordinator, who is implementing a more aggressive, blitz-heavy scheme that should play to the strengths of the Blazers' defensive line.

J'Qaun Mason

A redshirt sophomore pass rusher who is part of UAB's talented edge group.

Blance Golde

A first-team All-MEAC edge rusher who transferred to UAB from Morgan State.

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What they’re saying

“'Talking to Coach Mort, he was talking about changing the culture and bringing UAB back. I'm from Birmingham, so for the city to come back and try to bring the team back, it meant something to me.'”

— Chris Burge, UAB Edge Rusher

“'Coach TG, he's one of those old-school coaches, so he wants to go get it. Being on the edge and stuff, there's really a lot of movement this year. We weren't really doing that movement last year. We were just straight directly rushing. This year, it's more of a … it's just no way to explain it.'”

— Chris Burge, UAB Edge Rusher

“'We want to be able to affect the quarterback. That does sometimes involve getting a sack. We want to be able to move him off his spot and affect his ability to operate. I think that's really important, and I think being able to rush off the edge [is important]. I also think being able to push the pocket from inside, which often is the most difficult pressure to deal with, is really important.'”

— Alex Mortensen, UAB Head Coach

What’s next

UAB will continue spring practices over the next two weeks, with the team's annual spring game scheduled for April 12, 2026.

The takeaway

Chris Burge's decision to stay at UAB and build something special with the Blazers, rather than transfer, is a major boost for the program's defensive line. With an influx of new pass rushers and a more aggressive defensive scheme, UAB is poised to vastly improve its sack production in 2026 and potentially challenge the team's single-season sack record.