Senior Safety Aubrey Burks is ready to step up and be a big time player for the Mountaineers. Over the past two years Burks admits to having teams in his ear about transferring, but he says nothing made more sense than to return and continue to wear the Gold and Blue.
Last season as a junior was not the productive year that fans and Burks were hoping for. He finished the season with 46 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, and four passes defended. It was not much of, if any, sort of jump from his sophomore season. He finished that year with 66 tackles, one sack, one interception, and two passes defended.
One of those interceptions from last season came in the Mayo Bowl against North Carolina. Burks picked the ball off in the endzone which helped West Virginia allow one touchdown in three Tar Heel redzone trips. The other came against the win over Pitt.
Burks also had to recover from both a physical and mental hurdle last season. In a game against TCU, Burks suffered a neck injury on a scary play that resulted in him being carted off and taken to the hospital. The injury forced the safety to miss three games.
What made Burks so impressive last season was his ability to lead. Both defensive coordinator Jordan Lesley and defensive backs coach ShaDon Brown had high praise for Burks’ leadership all throughout last season.
Burks was given credit by his teammates and coaches for setting the tone in the film room. Burks would arrive at 6:00 a.m. every morning to watch hours of film. Slowly, one by one, the secondary would join him, then by the season was starting, the whole defense was there early as well.
This season, Burks knows he is going to be in that same type of role. He will be without last season’s veteran teammates in Malachi Ruffin and Beanie Bishop.Â
During the spring practices, Burks practiced a lot of the SPEAR position; a hybrid-type linebacker. Burks said the change is not going to be permanent, but something that he can add to his already well-rounded toolbox come game time.
Last season, Burks made mention to learning every single position in the secondary so he knew where everyone was going to be at all times. It appears the potential for the safety to expand on that knowledge for the upcoming season is very likely.Â
As for Burks’ future, he knows that this is his last chance at WVU and the college level to show professional scouts everything that he has to offer. Once a highly rated safety and an all but sure NFL draft pick, Burks has fallen off a lot of scouts’ and media’s radar.Â
“I’m at a contract year. When I met with Coach Brown at the end of the year, that’s what we both said – it’s a contract year. I graduate in December. Football here is over for me in December. So I got from here until December to stay focused and do everything I got to do in the classroom, and on the field.” Burks said during spring practices.
The opportunity is there for Burks, should he take it. In another revamped defense built through the portal, the team is screaming for a leader both on and off the field. However, one major difference that Burks notices from last year’s team to this year, is the focus.
“I can say this, in our locker room last year it was pretty hectic about NIL. This year, our team is just focused on ball. NIL is just going to come. I tell everybody this, if you want NIL money, you got to go produce on the field first. “
The decision for Burks to choose once again to come back to Morgantown could serve as a decision fans look back on after a successful defensive season. With practically all of the entire West Virginia offense returning after a super productive season, a lot of pressure could fall on the defense to step-up. Aubrey Burks could be the guy they need to help do so.Â
