Texas edge Ethan Burke is trying to 'be the best version of himself' in 2025

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A lot of the offensive lines Texas will line up against this season know about how dynamic a pass rusher Colin Simmons is, creating a scheme to slow him down.

But if teams focus too much on Simmons, Austin native and Westlake High School graduate Ethan Burke will be trying to come up with new sack celebrations.

Burke, a senior with nine starts and 40 career games played, registered nine tackles for loss with a pair of sacks and five pass breakups last season, and he's ready to make another leap forward in his production. He said watching and learning from Barryn Sorrell last season will help catapult his 2025 campaign.

"I'm just trying to be consistent every time I step on the field, being the best version of myself," Burke said. "Barryn was such a great teammate and leader for me. He taught me a work ethic. He's a guy who just puts his head down, doesn't talk or showboat, and he was such a consistent player for this program. I couldn't ask for a better mentor."

Being on the opposite side of the formation from Simmons, the duo has to communicate effectively, and it's to the point where they can almost read each other's minds, Burke said.

"I know what he's saying, he knows what I'm saying," Burke said. "Now we're getting with the interior guys and coming up with code words. The chemistry has been great, especially with the linebackers, too."

With the number of returning starters the Longhorns have on defense, developing a rapport and understanding with what everyone is supposed to do on the field shouldn't take too long. It helps that the defense has a good relationship off the field, too, Burke said.

"Everyone gets along off the field," he said. "There's no one who is an outcast. Everyone clicks and we all have that good chemistry, I'd say."

Burke had one of the best players of last season in the Lone Star Showdown, stuffing Texas A&M running back Amari Daniels in the backfield on a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line to help the Longhorns maintain a 17-7 lead late in the fourth quarter. He said people still stop and congratulate him on the play, and while he was happy to become part of the storied rivalry with its renewal last season, he's still not sure he'll really appreciate it until his playing days are long over.

"I think maybe 20 years from now, I'll reflect and be like, 'that was really cool,'" he said. "There's been so many cool memories being on this team, and I just don't think I'm seeing them fully yet. Once I'm sitting down, maybe with my kids, whatever, who knows. We have the future, so hopefully there are more to reflect on."