There’s a silent enforcer who is quietly making a case to elevate the Texas Longhorns defense to elite status
Ethan Burke is hard to miss on the football field. The 6-foot-6, 259 pounder from Westlake (Tex.) may not have a state sheet stuffer bio on the official Texas Longhorns web site, but he has legitimate potential to make a difference this season.He was Honorable Mention All-Big 12 in 2023 and has played in 40 […]
Ethan Burke is hard to miss on the football field. The 6-foot-6, 259 pounder from Westlake (Tex.) may not have a state sheet stuffer bio on the official Texas Longhorns web site, but he has legitimate potential to make a difference this season.
He was Honorable Mention All-Big 12 in 2023 and has played in 40 games throughout his career. Last season, he played in all 16 games and was one of five Longhorns who had nine or more tackles for loss during the CFP semifinal run. Now, he is looking to put an even bigger stamp on this year’s defense.
Colin Simmons and Anthony Hill Jr., are the major names to know in the front seven. But, Burke gets somewhat lost in the fold due to the major overhaul up front via the transfer portal. Purdue’s Cole Brevard, North Carolina’s Travis Shaw, and Ohio State’s Hero Kanu are three names who are already doing their thing in Austin. Syracuse defensive lineman Maraad Watson has also been thrown into the mix and could be the best one. Still, I would keep an eye on Burke.
Texas’ top four defensive linemen are gone.
Alfred Collins, Vernon Broughton, Jermayne Lole and Bill Norton are all gone. But the returning experience of Burke alongside the high-profile transfers are what make this Texas unit special. Burke has been in the fire and provides quite the Robin to Simmons’ Batman off the edge.
Burke has elite athleticism which was on display in high school. He was an all-state lacrosse player for Westlake and you can see his skill set in the open field when he’s running down ball carriers, dropping into coverage, and making big plays. Last year, he finished with 27 tackles, nine tackles for loss, five pass breakups, two sacks, an interception, and a defensive touchdown.
Something tells me Burke is going to be a gamechanger for Texas in 2025. He has already made his presence felt in fall camp. Last weekend, his length was on display, batting down passes and even being disruptive enough to lead to an interception.
His long arms are an asset to Kenny Baker’s room and his football IQ and knowledge of the defense is something Texas fans should not take lightly. I think a big season is on the horizon for Burke and he could be someone who feasts due to the attention received by Simmons opposite him on the defensive line.
