Name: Lee Burks
School: Marian
Position: OG/OT/C
Height: 6’5″
Weight: 350

Q: What goals did you set and/or accomplish in your final collegiate season?

A few goals that I set personally for myself was to allow 0 sacks, make all-conference, and to win a national championship. Even though I failed my first goal by allowing one sack, I did achieve to make first team All MSFA for the NAIA. We made it to the national championship this year and came up a little short but couldn’t be more proud of my teammates. As far as unit goals, as an offensive line, we set goals to allow the least amount of sacks in the country and to be one of the top rushing offenses around the country. We ended up being 2nd in total sacks allowed (6) and not only were we one of the top rushing teams in the country, we were fortunate enough to block for our great running back, Charles Salary and got him to earn the NAIA National Player of the Year award.

Q: What would your coaches and teammates say about the type of player you are?

They would describe me as a humble, focused, and hard working teammate that puts his head down and work. The reason why is because I’m not the type of player that’s very loud vocally or dialed up during practice, in the weight room, or even gameday. I try to be a leader by example for underclassmen so they can carry the tradition of being a Knight. I’m very detail oriented and want to put all my focus on making sure I give everything that I have physically and mentally while demonstrating great technique. I’m a firm believer in the saying “actions speak louder than words” and live by those words.

Q: When you are studying film, what do you focus on to improve your game?

Throughout the week, I study the strengths, weaknesses, alignments and tendencies of my opponents. Even though I played guard all season, I study if I were a tackle or center too because you never know if you need to fill in at a different position incase of an injury. As far as studying myself, I am very detail oriented and self critical and I always find something that I need to improve on technically every single rep whether it’s practice or a game.

Q: What separates you from the other pro prospects at your position?

What separates me is my will to learn and will to win. I always want to find ways to be better as an individual, as a unit, and as a team. I’m versatile and can play guard, tackle, and center. I pay close attention to detail, I’m technique driven, and very attentive to coaches so less time is spent on repeating themselves. I also bring physicality and athleticism for someone my size.

Q: What is your offseason plan to train and prepare for professional opportunities?

Besides focusing on finishing my academics strong and graduating this semester, I am currently working on losing some weight this offseason with better dieting and intermittent fasting. I also am going to continue to get stronger physically, work on my speed and agility, and increase my footwork. I’m also looking for any opportunity to get invited to pro-days.

Q: What kind of strengths and abilities will you bring to a team that will stand out both on and off the field?

I demand and expect nothing but excellence from my teammates and peers on and off the field. Mediocrity has never been an option for me and I display that with actions whether it’s in the classroom, in the weightroom, or on the field. I always strive for perfection and constantly try finding ways to improve and I want the same for my teammates.

Q: What is your final pitch to the NFL or any other pro leagues?

Whoever gives me the opportunity to play football is going to get a player that’s willing to do whatever it takes to better the organization and won’t regret the decision of picking me. God blessed me with the ability and tools to play the game I love. It’s a privilege to play football and I’d be damned to cheat myself of achieving excellence on and off the field. I’m going to come into work everyday, give a minimum of 110%, and will always find ways to get better.