Burke transferring to Louisville

NC State coach Tom O'Brien announced after practice Monday that redshirt sophomore quarterback Justin Burke is no longer with the team. Burke will be transferring to Louisville.

"With the situation here, I felt I needed to do something that was important to me," Burke said in a released statement. "I had a great experience at NC State and it was a special place for me over the last two and a half years. The entire coaching staff and the support staff have been great to me. I want to thank them and my teammates for being there for me. I wish them all the best."

Burke, along with redshirt junior Harrison Beck, were eliminated from NC State's quarterback position last week by O'Brien and offensive coordinator Dana Bible.

"When we made the decision to go down to three quarterbacks, I talked with him and Beck both, and told them if they had any desire they thought they want to move, we would help them do whatever they wanted to do," O'Brien said.

"[Burke's] a great kid and he's done a great job for our program. He's decided to transfer to the University of Louisville. We are going to miss him. I think it's for his best interests to move on and we're happy for him. He gets a new start somewhere else."

Burke, who starred at Lexington (Ky.) Catholic High, was perhaps NC State's best performer in the 2008 spring game, competing 17 of 24 passes for 191 yards and two scores, including a 30-yard touchdown to redshirt freshman George Bryan to win the game for the Red team on the final play.

However, Burke was unable to keep up with Beck and fifth-year senior Daniel Evans at quarterback last year, throwing just three passes in a blowout loss to Clemson. The additions of redshirt freshman Russell Wilson and top recruit Mike Glennon drove Burke further down the depth chart.