How I Got Here Tom Burke ’24

Versatile team captain uses fifth year to reach for NJACs, All-American status, and the NFL.

Words by Kara Pothier

Tom Burke '24

Football appeals to a lot of young boys, I think. Just that idea of being with other kids, running around, and you get to be a little rough. It’s a good way to get rid of that boy energy. 

I am from Virginia now, but I was a Navy brat. I lived in San Diego for half my life, so I am a Chargers fan. My dad is from the Philadelphia area, so the Eagles are his team, and I like them, too. 

When my dad asked me if I wanted to play football, it was a no brainer. I started in Pee Wee leagues.

I play tight end, which is a mix of an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. So I have to block and get physical on the offensive line, but I also have to go out for passes and catch balls. Tight ends are like the Swiss army knives on the football field. They do everything. 

My first year at TCNJ, we only won two games. The class I came in with said, “This is not the standard we want to live up to. We’re going to take this a lot more seriously.”

We’ve built ourselves into being a real college football team. And that reflects in our record and how we’ve been performing. We take a lot of pride in this.

I didn’t really understand what it took to be a college athlete, and I ended up losing my starting spot as a sophomore. I wasn’t making the plays they knew I should be making. I thought I could just slide by on natural ability. But it’s a lot more than that.

I told the coach, “I’m going to do whatever I can to show you I deserve to be on that field.” I was in there watching film. I was in the weight room like a maniac. 

Junior year, I had a breakout season, meaning a really good season. The rest has been history. > I received All-Region honors. I was a preseason All-American last year, but I didn’t get it at the end of the season. So that’s a goal. I’m really focused on showing I’m one of the best tight ends in the country. 

And it’s not just me. It’s the whole team. We want to win a conference championship and have a playoff win. 

I’m a business management major, and I would like to work in the sports sector. I know it’s very competitive. But I think I could bring a lot to that field. 

For right now, this is the job I want to do, and I have been talking to agents. I hope to play football for a few more years. I’m doing one of the most fun things in the world.