After his senior season in football, senior Ethan Burke has been recognized for his athletic skill and given the opportunity to play for the Trinity College Bantams. He has been chosen to play the position of Wide Receiver on the team.
Burke first impressed the coaches in the April of 2024 with his junior season film tape, but they didn’t get back into contact with him until after his senior season. Despite this setback, he sent out a second film tape from his senior season. He was then invited to the campus for a tour of the facilities and to meet with the coaching staff.
“Trinity’s strong academic reputation, supportive football program, and extensive career networking opportunities made it the perfect fit,” Burke’s mom, and biggest fan, Kelly Burke said. “The dedication of the coaching staff, including Coach Devanney’s visit to one of Ethan’s basketball games, reinforced that this was exactly where he belonged.”
The recruitment process was long and grueling, especially since Trinity was not the only college interested in Burke. He also received offers from Middlebury, Endicott, Assumption, University of New Haven, Saint Anselm and Western New England. In all, he said, “…it was more than just a decision made by me. I had many conversations with my parents and close friends and coaches about what I’m looking for in a school as well as what I want in my future,” Burke explained.
Given that his experience was mostly limited to flag football with friends at the Tolland bubble, his family never expected that playing at the college level would be in his future. But with a nudge from Coach Hodge, Burke joined a summer passing league and from the first practice, he was hooked. So even though Burke has only been playing varsity football at South Windsor High School for the past two years, his dedication to improving and truly learning the game became undeniable.
Burke’s passion for football has been quite the journey, leading him to Trinity College.
“I also realized that I can use my skill in the sport to get into a prestigious school like Trinity,” Burke told The Prowl.
He decided to pursue it after a solid junior season.
“As football became a real factor in his college decision, our priority as parents was ensuring he chose a school that would not only support his athletic ambitions but also challenge him academically and set him up for success beyond the field,” Kelly Burke said.
Some of his most valuable assets are his work ethic, his speed and explosiveness and his willingness to learn. He looks forward to continuing to develop his knowledge of the game and grow as a person and athlete.
Although he hasn’t officially joined Trinity’s program yet, he plans to start after graduation in August, when camp starts. Burke explained that he is “super excited to join an already successful program and adapt to their new concepts and culture.”
For Burke, football isn’t just a sport, it also helped him grow as a person.
“We couldn’t be prouder, not just of Ethan’s ability to play at the next level, but of the way he got there,” Kelly Burke said. “His determination and relentless work ethic have been inspiring and it’s incredible to see how football has shaped his journey. His love for the game even led him to assistant coach a youth football program this past year, allowing him to share what he’s learned and give back to younger athletes. Most importantly, he’s excelling academically while balancing everything that comes with being a student-athlete.”
She believes that Burke’s journey unfold has been nothing short of extraordinary, and her family can’t wait to see where this next chapter at Trinity takes him.
At Trinity, Burke plans to major in Economics with a focus in finance. He also looks forward to branching out and connecting with new people.
