The New Class: Xavier Burke
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Height: 6'3"
Weight: 238
Position: Tight End/Defensive End
Hometown: Brunswick, Va.
Prep School: Fork Union Military Academy
Rivals.com Rating: 5.7, three stars
Rivals.com Prep Ranking: No. 6
Recruited by: Bryan Stinespring
Has your size changed at all?
I weighed myself the other day and I'm at 248 now. With all the training and stuff, I've been lifting heavy. I guess I have a lot of bulk on me, now. I've gotten faster, actually.
What does your workout routine entail?
I try to switch it up a little bit. One day, it's legs and the next day it'll be arms. At the end of every workout, I always try to do core, because that's the biggest muscle in the body and if you don't have that, you won't be as good of a player. I try to do some running afterwards, always.
When do you plan on reporting to Virginia Tech?
I'll be there for good on Friday morning.
What do you plan on working or improving on through this summer?
I just wanna keep getting stronger and keep perfecting my craft. I wanna become a better player, a student of the game and just critique the things I need to work on, really. I just need to be a student of the game.
How would you describe your playing style?
I'm a guy who's very energetic, likes to have fun. If I make a play, you're gonna know I made a play because I'm getting up, dancing and jumping all around the field. I just love to have fun, man, bring a lot of effort and leadership.
What are some of your goals for your freshman season at Virginia Tech?
Obviously, I would love to start as a true freshman. But I would say the goal for myself, I want to win a national championship while I'm at Virginia Tech. If I push that to the guys, we can work towards that goal, just winning the ACC championship. If we win the ACC championship, then we will make it to a national championship one day.
What player or team are you most looking forward to going up against?
Obviously, Ohio State. That's the first game of the season and that's a really big game. That game is home and to play in Lane Stadium, starting is a goal of mine. That would be a big plus, because all the fans will be there and they would see how good Xavier Burke will be in the future.
What's your favorite food?
I try to eat healthy most of the time. But if I treated myself, it would probably be some bufffalo wings from Buffalo Wild Wings or something.
What is your favorite movie?
'Taken 3.' It came out Friday. I don't wanna give anything away, but just know it's a good movie
What is your favorite TV show?
I watch ESPN most of the time. I like "Sports Nation,' but another favorite is 'Real Husbands of Hollywood.' It's with Kevin Hart and that stuff is ridiculous. It has me weak all the time.
What's the one song you're getting amped up to before a game?
I'm a slow jam guy. You get butterflies and your nerves will be running before the game, so I like to listen to some slow jams or something like that. The biggest thing I really want to do, I could care less about other music, I just want to run out to 'Enter Sandman.' I get so hype in the stands and I just can't imagine running out and listening to it, actually being on the field. I do listen to rap right before the game, like some Chief Keef or Joe. One of my favorite songs is 'I wanna Know.' I also like the young Chris Brown, not the old, crazy one.
What would be three words to describe you?
Outgoing, humble and a great person.
If you could date any celebrity, who would it be?
So many. Does it matter how old they are? I would say Nia Long. She's like 40-something, but she still looks good.
If you could go toe to toe in the ring with anybody, who would it be?
Wrestling or fighting? I wanna say J.J. Watt. I say that because I really like J.J. Watt. He wasn't one of my favorite players until my coach told me about him. his technique is so simple, but he's so good because he does it every play. I never knew that football was so simple. Once you learn how to do technique, it's not that difficult.
What's been your most memorable experience playing football?
Receiving my jersey for the Semper Fi All-American game.
What's the one thing you learned from your recruitment that you would pass on as advice to a future recruit?
I'm proud of the school I chose, but I would say, take the time in your recruitment and experience a lot of schools and take your recruitment seriously. I committed so early, so I didn't have the opportunity to go around to different schools. But I'm sure that Virginia Tech is a great school for me. But I would just say take time in your recruitment and weigh your options out.
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