Phoenix Arizona

ASU’s Jason Burke To Receive Post-Graduate Scholarship
National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Honors Burke

Jason Burke, a long snapper on the 2006 Arizona State University football team, is the 2007 recipient of a postgraduate scholarship presented annually by the Valley of the Sun Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, Chapter Executive Director Dan Manucci announced Friday.
 
Burke and several local high school football student-athletes will be honored at the Chapter’s annual Scholarship Banquet on Saturday, February 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the Scottsdale Hilton Resort, 6333 North Scottsdale Road. For more information regarding the banquet contact Dan Manucci at 480-838-2046.
 
The consummate Sun Devil, Burke played in all 49 games during the 2003-06 seasons, joining kicker Jesse Ainsworth and defensive tackle Jordan Hill as the only Sun Devils on the 2006 roster to do so.  Burke was a steady long snapper who made only one bad snap during his four-year career.  A highly acclaimed student who earned Pacific-10 Conference All-Academic honors four times during his career, including first-team honors in 2005 and 2006.  He was an integral member of ASU’s special teams units that used the services of a total of four punters during the 2003-06 seasons.
 
In 2006 Burke played in all 13 games as ASU’s long snapper while earning first-team Pac-10 All-Academic honors for the second consecutive season, posting a 3.9 GPA studying finance and marketing, the second-highest grade point average among first-team members. He was the snapper for kicker Jesse Ainsworth, who finished the season successfully converting a Pac-10 record 160 consecutive extra points, which dates back to the 2003 season.  He snapped to punter Jonathan Johnson, whose 37.2-yard net punting average was a 6.9-yard increase from ASU’s average in 2005, the greatest improvement in the Pac-10.  Burke was recognized as a Hard Hat Player for his work in ASU’s preseason winter strength and conditioning program.
 
In 2005 Burke served as the team’s long snapper in all 12 games.  He participated in every game despite being hampered by nagging injuries and earned first-team Pac-10 All-Academic honors with a 3.9 GPA.
 
In 2004 he handled ASU’s long snapping duties in all 12 games. He snapped to punter Chris MacDonald who earned Freshman All-America honors after finishing third in the Pac-10 and 15th in the nation at 43.1 yards per punt. He was a second-team Pac-10 All-Academic selection.  Burke also earned first-team ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District VIII honors.  He shared the team’s Clyde B. Smith Academic Award with Andrew Carnahan. Burke played in all 12 games at long snapper in 2003 and earned second-team Pac-10 All-Academic honors.  He snapped to honorable mention All-Pac-10 performer Tim Parker who finished 20th in the nation and third in the Pac-10 at 43.4 yards per punt.
 
A 2002 graduate of Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale Burke was named first-team all-region at center in 2001. He earned the U.S. Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award in 2002 and also earned the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Scholar-Athlete Award in 2002. Burke lettered in football one year and was coached by Steve Belles. A finance major, Burkes parents are Paul (independent contractor) and Marie (executive assistant) of Glendale.
 
ASUs National Football Foundation Hall of Fame Scholar-Athletes
 
2007    Jason Burke
2006    Chad Christensen
2005    Grayling Love
2004    Skyler Fulton
2003    Mike Barth
2002    Nick Murphy
2001    Mike Aguirre
1997    Damien Richardson
1996    Kirk Robertson
1995    Justin Dragoo
1993    Toby Mills
1992    Adam Brass
1990    Drew Metcalfe
1989    Mark Tingstad
1978    Chris Mott
1966    Ken Dyer