Jalen Burks
Offensive Lineman / UW-Stevens-Point
Alex Khvatov: What are your measurements (height, weight and forty time)?
Jalen Burks: I am 6’5, 304 and the goal is to hit a sub 5.0 in the 40. I was 275 pounds my senior year. We ran a lot of outside zone this past year. I have been eating six times a day. I am always eating and working out. I have gained about 30 pounds. I am pushing myself every time I eat. I am eating oatmeal, 12 eggs a day, a bunc of peanut butter, milk and chicken. I am getting the results and getting stronger. I didn’t want to put on bad weight and get slower. I want to continue to move the way I move.
Alex Khvatov: Where are you currently training for the NFL Draft?
Jalen Burks: At NX Level training in Wisconsin with Brad Arnett. Brad Arnett trains JJ Watt, who is like a second dad to him. He also trains a ton of other NFL players.
Alex Khvatov: When is your Pro Day? What is your goal?
Jalen Burks: The pro day is on March 11th. We are still working on the details. I am trying to get into the Wisconsin pro day. If I don’t get in there, I will be at Wisconsin-Whitewater’s pro day. They always hold our conference pro day every year. I want to show what type of athlete I am. What I do on film is legit. I want to hit good numbers on the L-drill and the three-cone. I would be in the top percentage in terms of OL with my combine numbers. I want to show that I am strong enough on the bench. I want to put on a show. Being smooth, show my athleticism and no false steps.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you choose UW-Eua Claire?
Jalen Burks: Coming out of high school, I was a little chubby kid. I was 6’1, 280 and didn’t have much strength. I played center my entire life in high school and moved to OT in college. I communicated with a lot of D-III schools. I spent the first year UW-Eua Claire. I started to grow and got longer. I started to look like an NFL tackle. I grinded and transformed my body. There were some racist things at UW-Eua Claire that went viral in the CNN report. It was all over the news. The city was great, but the vibes on the football team weren’t good. We were the first class where they brought in a lot of African American players to the school. There was some tension. I decided to transfer after my freshman year.
Alex Khvatov: Why did you transfer to UW-Stevens-Point?
Jalen Burks: They were really good my freshman year when I was at UW-Eau Claire. My cousin played there at TE.
Alex Khvatov: What are your strengths?
Jalen Burks: One is athleticism. I can move with anybody. You have to move nowadays. My feet and technique. My pass pro has been good for years now. My passion for the game. Football is what I do. I watch a lot of film.
Alex Khvatov: What areas of your game are you trying to improve upon?
Jalen Burks: The main thing is my weight. I needed to get my weight up and continue to get stronger.
Alex Khvatov: Tell us about your overall career at UW-Stevens-Point.
Jalen Burks: Individually, I was a starter from the first time I got there. I was a two-time captain and two-time all-conference player. We definitely didn’t hit the goals the last two years as a team. We went 4-6 two years ago and 3-7 this past year. We have a new culture in place. We left the imprint.
Alex Khvatov: What is the highlight of your career up to this point?
Jalen Burks: One thing is my team beating Oshkosh in 2018. We upset them. It was the biggest game of my career. Most fun memory.
Alex Khvatov: What is your biggest accomplishment in college that you are most proud of?
Jalen Burks: Being a two-time captain. The team votes for captain. When your peers consider you as a captain, it feels good.
Alex Khvatov: What was the biggest thing that you took away from your coaching staff?
Jalen Burks: The biggest thing that I took away from the new coaching staff the last two years was the togetherness that we tried to build within a team. They also instilled a work ethic in us.
Alex Khvatov: Did you play in any all-star games?
Jalen Burks: I played in the Dream Bowl in Virginia. It went really well. I was a D-III guy who went up against different guys. I talked to scouts and it was fun. I talked to about 7-8 teams.
Alex Khvatov: What is your favorite NFL team?
Jalen Burks: I am from Wisconsin. I am a die-hard Packers fan. I talked to multiple teams, but I haven’t talked to the Packers yet.
Alex Khvatov: Who is your favorite NFL player?
Jalen Burks: I have two. One is Tyrann Mathieu. I like his attitude and grit. He had been in some trouble before, but he turned his life around and battled back. He has great passion. He is definitely a baller. RT Lane Johnson of the Eagles is spectacular. He is my favorite lineman.
Alex Khvatov: What is the most important trait for an OL?
Jalen Burks: What separates you is your technique. Everyone is big and strong in the NFL. In college, you can overpower people. When you get to that level, best OL have the best technique by a mile.
Alex Khvatov: What players on your team should we keep an eye on for next season?
Jalen Burks: Definitely, corner Donovan Lucas this past year. He is a freak athlete. He is super-fast and developing his technique. DL Berkley Corvino will be a junior this year. He is a freak athlete. They both should be playing higher than D-III level. They should be playing at a D-I level.
Alex Khvatov: What do you enjoy most about football?
Jalen Burks: Impose your will on other man and find out who the Alpha dog is. It is a mental battle. You prepare for your guy and you find what his counters are. I am always intrigued by the mental aspects of the game.
Alex Khvatov: What are your hobbies?
Jalen Burks: For three months, it’s been all football for me. I am always watching film, working out and eating. I like to go fishing with my dad and my brothers.
Alex Khvatov: What do you want to do with your life after your football career is over?
Jalen Burks: I want to coach college football. The coaches told me that I would be a good coach. I am always watching film. I am intrigued about game planning. I want to go to graduate school and become a graduate assistant. My major was in exercise science.
Alex Khvatov: What five words best describe you?
Jalen Burks: Dedicated, tough, hard worker, tenacious and loyal.
