Dave Burke Season 1984

Honors and Awards

• Second-team All-Big Eight (UPI, 1984)

Career

Dave Burke was a three-time letterwinner, recruited as a I-back converted to cornerback. Achieved All-Big Eight (UPI) honors as a senior. Led the Huskers in pass breakups in 1984. Dave also had 128 total tackles in his career as a husker, seven of those being for a loss of 14. Burke had five interceptions, while having 14 pass breakups. 

1984 (Senior)
Burke started all 12 regular-season games for the Huskers in 1984. He captured All-Big Eight (UPI) honors. Burke led the team with seven pass breakups. Burke was named Defensive Player of The week by both the Big Eight and Sports Illustrated for his performance against Oklahoma State. Dave was in on seven tackles (six unassisted), intercepted one pass, broke up two others, recovered a fumble, assisted in blocking a field goal attempt all in the Oklahoma state game. Burke had 23 unassisted tackles, 12 assisted tackles, one fumble recovery, two interceptions, with seven pass breakups.

1983 (Junior)
Played in all 12 regular-season games for the Big Red, plus the Orange Bowl vs. Miami at right cornerback in 1983. Fourth overall on defense for total tackles with 53, 32 of those were unassisted, four tackles for loss of five yards, three interceptions. One of those interceptions he had against UCLA,which he would return 31 yards down the sideline for a touchdown.Burke had a blocked field goal attempt on Iowa State. He had his season high of eight tackles against both Kansas State and Missouri. 

1982 (Sophomore)
Part-time Starter with Neil Harris at right cornerback for the Huskers. Burke recorded 40 tackles with 26 of those being unassisted. He also broke up four passes. 23 of his last tackles came in the Huskers' last four games. Top career tackle game was 12 off the bench vs.Oklahoma, which played a crucial part in the 28-24 victory against the Sooners.

1980 (Freshman)
Started at I-Back for the 5-0 Husker freshman team. Led the team in rushing with 334 yards, four touchdowns.

Personal

The son of John and Judy Burke. Dave was born on Nov. 23, 1961, in Layton, Utah. Burke was a two-time all-starter at Layton High school, he was named Utah’s MVP by both Salt Lake City Tribune and the Deseret News. He was also All-region in basketball. Burke enrolled Nebraska as a criminal justice major. Dave was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent in 1985, but never made the final roster. Burke would later sign with the Denver Gold in 1985.