Polson football standout signs with Montana Tech
POLSON — Three-year varsity Polson Pirates offensive lineman and outside linebacker Jonah Burke signed a letter of intent with NAIA school Montana Tech this past week.
Burke admitted looking through his collegiate options was a “grueling process.”
“I was really more into trying to leave for an out-of-state school to a different school and Coach Chuck Morrell swung me over to Montana Tech because he made me feel at home.”
Burke said he felt playing football at the college level is “surreal.”
“It has always been a dream of mine to play college football and play at the next level,” Burke said. “(In order to stay at the college level) I need to stay in the weight room and always working towards making my college career successful.”
According to Burke, the Diggers will have him playing an outside linebacker/defensive end “hybrid.”
Pirates football coach Scott Wilson praised Burke for his work ethic.
“He has improved a lot in the past three seasons,” Wilson said. “He has worked very hard and it has paid off for him. Jonah had a very good senior year and obviously that is showing that is getting the opportunity to play college football now.”
Wilson said he felt Burke’s main improvement as a football player is his ability to read offensive and defensive schemes.
“I think probably just overall his strength and ability is to read the plays quicker and he was one of our main pulling guards and we would pull him more often than other guards and his versatility on offense and defense really was one of the key parts that helped the success that we were able to have.”
Burke’s versatility will make him difficult to replace, according to Wilson.
“He was a three-year starter for us and one of those kids that is very coachable young man and he wanted to improve and do his best and was always willing to do what we asked him to do and with him playing different positions I think that showcases the good character that he has because he is willing to do what is best for the team.”