- December 13, 2025
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Northern Kentucky University's soccer coaches were quick to mold Roberto Burlew into the player they envisioned.
Very quick.
On his very first day with the program, he was summoned to the coaches' office. Then-coach Stu Riddle and then-assistant Blair Stevenson wanted to share their thoughts.
They saw great potential in Burlew as a right back. Entering college, he was recruited as a midfielder. Defense was not his forte.
"At first, I was like, 'What?'" Burlew said. "But with their guidance, I ended up falling in love with the position and was hungry to learn more."
He didn't resist change or respond with frustration. Rather, he took it in stride.
The Norse were, after all, one of the few Division I programs to offer him a spot out of high school. Without a scholarship as a freshman, he carried gratitude for the opportunity in front of him.
He has made the most of it.
The Sarasota Paradise announced Burlew, 23, as the third signing in club history Nov. 26. The team is preparing for its first professional season in League One of the United Soccer League.
He joins the roster as the first returning player from last season's semi-professional squad — which competed in USL League Two — and in the wake of Garrett McLaughlin, who was the first player to sign, and Maximus Tainio, who was the first international player to sign with the team.
"This move is a perfect fit, because it gives me the chance to grow as a player while helping build something special from the very beginning," Burlew said. "Going into my first season, I always wanted to be somewhere that believes in developing players, and the Paradise has shown that trust in me from day one."
Following the fifth and final season of his collegiate career at Wisconsin, Burlew joined Sarasota's back line. His efforts helped the Paradise to a second consecutive South Florida Division crown in USL League Two.
In offering Burlew a pro contract, the club believes he's ready to leave his semi-pro days behind.
Paradise Coach Mika Elovaara said Burlew's humility, work rate and team-oriented disposition were keys to his earning the contact.
"Those are assets and attributes that don't get mentioned often enough when it comes to making it as a pro," Elovaara said.
It was over five years ago when Burlew stepped into that office at Northern Kentucky and realized his development was headed in an entirely different direction.
It was many years prior when it became possible for him to walk through that door.
His beginnings trace back to Cincinnati, Ohio — the very place where his father, Rob Burlew, left his own mark in the sport. Rob Burlew competed collegiately for Cincinnati men's soccer and later played professionally for the now-defunct Cincinnati Riverhawks.
Under the watchful eye of his father-coach, Roberto Burlew played all four years on varsity for Finneytown High of Cincinnati. He accumulated just one goal and three assists as a freshman, but took a big leap as a sophomore, tallying 14 goals and five assists.
"From a young age, I told (my father) my dreams and aspirations as a soccer player," Burlew said. "And from there, my parents sacrificed a lot for me to be where I'm at today."
To complement his high school season, he was also heavily involved with Kings Hammer, a Cincinnati youth soccer club. The coaches on that team pushed him to be multi-positional — to go beyond his strengths as a midfielder.
They also helped him get on Northern Kentucky's radar.
A mere 13.7 miles southeast of Finneytown High, Northern Kentucky wasn't exactly a hike from home.
There, he became a true defensive stalwart. Starting 58 of 59 games in his four seasons with the program, he was named to the 2023 Second Team All-Horizon League. His 1,463 minutes played as a senior were second-most on the squad.
Wisconsin represented his shot at Power Four soccer. He didn't need to take many shots on the field, though, to make an impact in Madison.
Offering his durable, disciplined presence on defense, he registered a team-high 1,283 minutes and four assists in 2024.
"Finishing my college career was a big moment, but the transition to trying to get on a professional team definitely came with some challenges," Burlew said. "You're going to have a lot of teams that are going to tell you, 'No. You're not good enough. You're not the right fit for us,' So it's a lot to take in."
Elovaara is confident he will be a good fit with the Paradise.
What Burlew brings to the table is more than just his standout defense — it's continuity. He's already competed at Premier Sports Campus, well-aware of what the club is all about.
Unlike in college, though, the season ahead will be almost year-round, running from March to November. The level of play will be higher than any he's seen before.
"He has all the tools to be the modern, attacking fullback that he wants to be," Elovaara said. "And then it's just a matter of actually translating his game from the college game to the program."
Burlew could've refused when his coaches at Northern Kentucky advised a position change. He could've been intent on entering the transfer portal.
He didn't. Instead, he trusted their vision for his development.
A professional club wants Burlew now — not for what he did as a midfielder, but for who he is as a defender.
