Sept. 15, 2016
On the football field, Oren Burks is one of the most productive members of the Vanderbilt defense. Away from the field, he might be even more accomplished.
Burks, a redshirt junior linebacker from Fairfax Station, Va., has been named to the 25th anniversary Good Works Team co-sponsored by Allstate and the America Football Coaches Association.
Burks, a three-time Southeastern Conference Academic Honor Roll recipient who is involved in numerous community outreach efforts on and around the Vanderbilt campus, is one of 12 student-athletes named to the Allstate AFCA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Good Works Team®.
Burks also becomes the third Commodore student-athlete in the last four years to earn national Good Works Team recognition. Former placekicker Carey Spear and long snapper Andrew East were honored in 2013 and 2014, respectively.
Burks, also under consideration for the Wuerffel Trophy, is one of two student-athletes from the Southeastern Conference named to the Allstate AFCA FBS Good Works Team®, joining Georgia junior tight end Jeb Blazevich.
Burks’ recognition as a Good Works Team member is based on his superb combination of on-and off-field accomplishments.
As a student, Burks has become a key leader on the Vanderbilt campus and among the Commodore student-athlete population. Burks has been elected president of Vanderbilt’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for the 2016-17 calendar year after serving as a Commodore football representative in last 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, ranging from visiting ailment youngsters in the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital on campus to organizing shoe drives for Nashville-based non-profit Soles4Souls.
Academically, Burks is working a degree in Human & Organizational Development.
On the field, Burks is moved this season to Vanderbilt’s “Star” hybrid linebacker role. In two games, he has contributed 10 total tackles, a quarterback sack, an interception and four defensed passes, and was nominated for SEC Defensive Player of the Week honors after a sensational performance last week in the Commodores’ 47-24 win over MTSU.
A two-year starter entering the 2016 season, Burks has amassed 106 tackles, three tackles for loss, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and 17 defensed passes in his career. Named by league head coaches as a preseason All-SEC selection in August, Burks has started 18 consecutive games entering Vanderbilt’s matchup with Georgia Tech on campus.
Joining Burks and Blazevich on the FBS Good Works Team are Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson, Colorado linebacker Derek McCartney, Duke defensive back DeVon Edwards, Florida State offensive lineman Alec Eberle, Georgia Tech defensive lineman KeShun Freeman, Hawaii defensive lineman Makani Kema-Kaleiwahea, Pittsburgh linebacker Mike Caprara, TCU defensive back Carlin Moore, Tulsa quarterback Dane Evans and Western Michigan quarterback Zach Terrell.
Now that the team is announced, fans are encouraged to visit ESPN.com/Allstate to vote for the 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® Captain through Nov. 23. The Team Captain will be honored at the Home Depot College Football Awards on ESPN. The 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® will be invited to New Orleans to participate in a community project before the 2017 Allstate® Sugar Bowl®, where the team will be recognized at halftime.
The 2016 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team® was selected from a group of nominees who were submitted by sports information directors across the country.