Vanderbilt linebacker Oren Burks heard his name called in the NFL Draft, going to the Green Bay Packers with the 88th pick in the 3rd round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
After arriving on campus in 2013 as a three-star recruit, Burks took a redshirt year before becoming a contributor in his second year on campus, starting seven games at safety in 2014. In 2015, Burks became the Commodores’ full-time starter at free safety and recorded 58 tackles and 2 tackles for loss.
The following spring, Burks moved to the “star” position, a hybrid safety/linebacker position, before moving to linebacker full-time as a senior. As a senior, Burks notched 82 total tackles with seven tackles for loss, a sack, an interception, and a fumble recovery along with four defensed passes.
Burks added about 25 pounds of good weight over his Vanderbilt career and checks in at 6’3” and 230 pounds. In Burks, the Packers are getting a versatile defender who could play linebacker or safety at the next level.