July 13, 2016
Vanderbilt defensive standout Oren Burks has been named as a candidate for the Wuerffel Trophy and Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
Burks, a fourth-year junior from Fairfax Station, Va., is a two-year starter in the Commodore secondary who will play the “Star” hybrid linebacker-safety role for the upcoming season.
Burks has been nominated for Wuerffel and AllState-AFCA Good Works Team consideration based on his abilities on and off the football field. The Wuerffel Trophy, named for 1996 Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel, is awarded to the collegiate player that best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement. The Allstate AFCA Good Works Team recognizes 11 players across the nation for their exceptional abilities beyond the football field.
Burks, a three-time Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll recipient, has become a key leader on the Vanderbilt campus and among the Commodore student-athlete population.
Burks served as a Commodore football representative to Vanderbilt’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) a year ago, and has been tabbed to serve as president of the group for the 2016-17 calendar year.
On campus, Burks was a co-founder of the Revitalizing & Empowering Vanderbilt’s African-American Male Population (REVAMP) student organization in 2015, and helped coordinate a series of on-campus lectures and activities during the school year. REVAMP was recognized as the university’s top new student organization last spring.
Burks also has been involved with Commodore teammates in several community service projects in the Nashville area.
Academically, Burks is working toward majors in Human & Organizational Development and Economics.
Burks also joined linebacker Zach Cunningham and running back Ralph Webb as the team’s representatives at the 2016 SEC Media Days, held in early July in Hoover, Ala.
On the field, Burks has started 16 consecutive games in the Vanderbilt secondary. In 2015, as a free safety, he posted single-season career highs in numerous categories, including 34 solo stops and 58 total tackles, and ranked among the SEC’s Top Ten with a team-high three interceptions. He was named Third Team All-SEC by Phil Steele Publications after the season.
Former Commodore standouts placekicker Carey Spear and snapper Andrew East have been named recently to the 11-player NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Allstate AFCA Good Works Team: Spear recognized in 2013 and East in 2014.
Additional accolades for Cunningham
Cunningham, a redshirt junior from Pinson, Ala., continues to add preseason accolades after a banner 2015 season when he claimed consensus First Team All-SEC recognition.
In recent days, Cunningham has been named to the Dick Butkus Award and the Bronko Nagurski Award watch lists. The Butkus Award is given to the nation’s outstanding linebacker; the Nagurski awarded to the nation’s top defensive player.
Earlier in July, he also was named to watch list for the Bednarik Award watch list, another top recognition for defensive players.