Burke hopes to seize opportunity
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SAN ANTONIO -- Rated three stars, West Palm Beach (Fla.) Cardinal Newman tight end Matt Burke is one of the lowest-ranked players in this week's U.S. Army All-American Bowl, but he arrived in San Antonio ready to prove he can compete alongside the nation's best.
"I am just coming out here, trying to have fun, enjoy the week with everyone, enjoy the game, show off my skills and show that I got selected to this game for a reason," Burke said.
Burke is one of several prospects who comes into this game uncommitted, but unlike many of his fellow All-Americans he is open to new teams extending offers. Boise State, Florida International, Marshall and San Diego State have extended offers, while others continue to evaluate the 6-foot-6, 215-pound tight end.
"I have been talking to a bunch of other schools, and hopefully they pull the trigger after this game if I have a good performance," Burke said. "The Boise State coaches definitely said they will be watching the game and looking for me."
Among the schools Burke is in communication that have not yet offered are Vanderbilt, Purdue, Duke, Boston College and Tulane. He has three official visit spots open for trips in January. His first was to Boise State the weekend of Dec. 7.
"It was just a great environment, great people, great coaches, and I liked everything," Burke said. "Everyone was really nice out there, and I could see myself out there. It definitely is a huge difference going from 80 degrees outside to 20s and snowing, but eventually you would get used to it."
Burke went from one temperature extreme to another when he paired the Boise State official visit with an official visit to San Diego State in the same weekend.
"It was a complete environment change with a big city and great weather," Burke noted. "We got to see the campus and see the town. Coach [Rocky] Long and Coach [Tony] White were great."
The Ivy League schools are another option for Burke, who carries a 3.9 GPA. With the exposure his appearance in this week's Army Bowl will give him, however, Burke's recruitment could change drastically in the coming weeks.
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