2019 Pro Bowl Vote

Career Highlights:

• Selected by the Packers in the third round (No. 88 overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft, a pick obtained from Carolina in exchange for a fourth-round pick (No. 101) and a fifth-round pick (No. 147).
• Became the seventh player to be drafted out of Vanderbilt in team history and the second linebacker (Hunter Hillenmeyer, fifth round, 2003) to be selected from the school. 
• Played in 45 games with 40 starts in four seasons with the Commodores and registered 237 tackles (136 solo), 15½ tackles for a loss, 4½ sacks, five interceptions, 27 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
• Was named to the Butkus Award watch list in 2017 and went on to post career highs in tackles (82), solo tackles (45) and tackles for a loss (seven) in his first season at inside linebacker.
• Ranked No. 2 on the team as a senior in total tackles and solo tackles and No. 4 on the team in tackles for a loss.
• Appeared in all 13 games with 10 starts as a junior at a linebacker/safety hybrid position, finishing with 59 tackles (40 solo), 6½ tackles for a loss and a career-best 3½ sacks.
• Played free safety as a sophomore in 2015, starting all 12 games and recording career highs in interceptions (three) and passes defensed (nine). Earned third-team All-Southeastern Conference honors from Phil Steele’s College Football.
• Appeared in eight games with seven starts at safety as a redshirt freshman in 2014, recording 37 tackles (16 solo) and seven passes defensed.
• Attended South County High School (Lorton, Va.), where he earned first-team all-state honors and was named the district Defensive Player of the Year as a senior after posting 123 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, 3½ sacks, six forced fumbles and three interceptions.
• Earned his degree in human and organizational development.

Career Highlights:

• Selected by the Packers in the third round (No. 88 overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft, a pick obtained from Carolina in exchange for a fourth-round pick (No. 101) and a fifth-round pick (No. 147).
• Became the seventh player to be drafted out of Vanderbilt in team history and the second linebacker (Hunter Hillenmeyer, fifth round, 2003) to be selected from the school. 
• Played in 45 games with 40 starts in four seasons with the Commodores and registered 237 tackles (136 solo), 15½ tackles for a loss, 4½ sacks, five interceptions, 27 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
• Was named to the Butkus Award watch list in 2017 and went on to post career highs in tackles (82), solo tackles (45) and tackles for a loss (seven) in his first season at inside linebacker.
• Ranked No. 2 on the team as a senior in total tackles and solo tackles and No. 4 on the team in tackles for a loss.
• Appeared in all 13 games with 10 starts as a junior at a linebacker/safety hybrid position, finishing with 59 tackles (40 solo), 6½ tackles for a loss and a career-best 3½ sacks.
• Played free safety as a sophomore in 2015, starting all 12 games and recording career highs in interceptions (three) and passes defensed (nine). Earned third-team All-Southeastern Conference honors from Phil Steele’s College Football.
• Appeared in eight games with seven starts at safety as a redshirt freshman in 2014, recording 37 tackles (16 solo) and seven passes defensed.
• Attended South County High School (Lorton, Va.), where he earned first-team all-state honors and was named the district Defensive Player of the Year as a senior after posting 123 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, 3½ sacks, six forced fumbles and three interceptions.
• Earned his degree in human and organizational development.

2017: Played in 12 games with 11 starts at inside linebacker, his third straight year at a new position…Posted career highs in tackles (82), solo tackles (45) and tackles for a loss (seven), ranking No. 2 on the team in total tackles and solo tackles and No. 4 in tackles for a loss…Ranked No. 15 in the SEC in total tackles…Added a sack, a fumble recovery, an interception and four passes defensed…Vs. Alabama A&M (Sept. 9): Posted an interception and four tackles (one solo), including an assisted tackle for a loss…Vs. Kansas State (Sept. 16): Registered eight tackles (four solo), including 1½ tackles for a loss…At Florida (Sept. 30): Led the team with a career-high 15 tackles (six solo), including 1½ tackles for a loss…At South Carolina (Oct. 28): Posted nine tackles (seven solo) and a pass defensed…Vs. Kentucky (Nov. 11): Recorded 12 tackles (seven solo), a sack and a fumble recovery.

2016: Appeared in all 13 games with 10 starts at a linebacker/safety hybrid position, recording 59 tackles (40 solo), 6½ tackles for a loss and a career-best 3½ sacks…Added a team-high 6½ QB hurries, a forced fumble, an interception and seven passes defensed…Vs. South Carolina (Sept. 1): Posted six tackles (five solo), a forced fumble and a pass defensed…Vs. Middle Tennessee (Sept. 10): Registered four tackles (two solo), a sack, a career-high four passes defensed and an interception that he returned 59 yards, a career long…At Western Kentucky (Sept. 24): Recorded four tackles (all solo), a sack and a pass defensed…At Missouri (Nov. 12): Registered eight tackles (seven solo)…Vs. Tennessee (Nov. 26): Posted a season-high nine tackles (eight solo), including 1½ tackles for a loss.

2015: Started all 12 games at free safety, recording career highs in interceptions (three) and passes defensed (nine)…Posted 59 tackles (35 solo), two tackles for a loss, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery…Earned third-team All-SEC recognition from Phil Steele’s College Football…Vs. Georgia (Sept. 12): Posted eight tackles (four solo), a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and two passes defensed…At Ole Miss (Sept. 26): Registered six tackles (two solo), a tackle for a loss and his first career interception…Vs. Kentucky (Nov. 14): Was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance, posting a career-high two interceptions, including one he returned 30 yards for a TD in the second quarter…At Tennessee (Nov. 28): Posted a season-high nine tackles (eight solo).

2014: Appeared in eight games with seven starts at safety as a redshirt freshman, recording 37 tackles (16 solo) and seven passes defensed…Was sidelined for four games due to injury…Vs. Temple (Aug. 28): Started in his collegiate debut, recording six tackles (four solo), a fumble recovery and two passes defensed…Vs. Ole Miss (Sept. 6): Registered a season-high seven tackles (three solo) and a pass defensed…At Mississippi State (Nov. 22): Matched his season high with seven tackles (three solo).

HIGH SCHOOL: Attended South County High School (Lorton, Va.), where he earned first-team all-state honors and was named the district Defensive Player of the Year as a senior after posting 123 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, 3½ sacks, six forced fumbles and three interceptions…Added three TD catches and four blocked punts for a team that advanced to the second round of the Group 5 playoffs…Was a three-year starter and a two-year captain…As a junior, registered 128 tackles, 22 tackles for a loss, 11 sacks, two INTs and three defensive TDs as the Stallions advanced to the state title game.

PERSONAL: Given name Oren Spencer Burks…Born in Alexandria, Va. …His cousin, Andrew White, plays for the Atlanta Hawks…Was a candidate for the Senior CLASS Award in 2017, a finalist for the Wooden Citizenship Cup in 2017 and was a member of the Allstate-AFCA Good Works Team in 2016, which honored 12 Division I-A football players from across the country for their commitment to community service…Also served as president of the Vanderbilt Student-Athlete Advisory Council in 2016-17…Was a co-founder of the campus organization REVAMP (Revitalizing and Empowering Vanderbilt’s African-American Population)…Also served as a volunteer for Project Safe, which works to prevent sexual assault and dating violence on campus, and Soles4Souls, spearheading the collection of shoes for needy people…Residence: Fairfax Station, Va.