Burke commits to NC State

NC State wanted a big-time quarterback from the Class of 2006, and on Friday they may have received one when Justin Burke of Lexington (Ky.) Catholic High verbally committed to the Pack.

Burke, 6-foot-2, 193 pounds, is ranked as the No. 6 player in Kentucky and a three-star prospect by Rivals.com. The top-ranked signal caller in the Bluegrass State completed 142 of 248 passes for 2,289 yards and 24 touchdowns with only seven interceptions as a junior. He also ran 75 times for 419 yards and seven more scores.

His career passing numbers include 313 completions in 514 attempts for an accuracy of 61%. Burke has thrown for 4,981 yards and 58 touchdowns, both third all-time in Lexington Catholic history. He has been picked off only 11 times. Burke earned honorable mention all-state honors after his sophomore and junior seasons.

NC State offered Burke a scholarship in May and immediately became one of his favorites. The offer from the Wolfpack came nearly at the same time Burke received one from Tennessee. Other schools that tendered him included Kentucky, Louisville, Northwestern, Michigan State, Purdue, Ole Miss, Wake Forest, Rutgers, Western Michigan and Toledo.

Burke made an unofficial visit to NC State in late June, enjoying a four-hour meeting with offensive coordinator Marc Trestman and coming away impressed with the Raleigh campus. He narrowed his list to five a month later – NC State, Kentucky, Louisville, Purdue and Northwestern.

He is the fourth commitment for NC State, joining defensive tackle Gavin Smith of Raleigh, kicker Josh Czajkowski of Springfield, Va., and kicker Nathan Franklin of Wilmington, N.C. Burke is already academically qualified.

The Wolfpacker will have much more on Burke's decision … so stay tuned!