Oren Burks’ job description as a Vanderbilt Commodore was as simple as it was vague: make head coach (and oft-defensive coordinator) Derek Mason’s life easier.
The multi-faceted defender covered roles ranging from secondary help to pass rusher in his five years at Vandy, using his blend of size and athleticism to give Mason a Swiss Army Knife patrolling the second level. Burks’ ability to play fill the “star” slot in the Commodore defense gave the team a hybrid linebacker-safety who could sneak up to the line of scrimmage and wallop tailbacks or drop into coverage and play centerfield against the SEC’s top passing attacks.