UCLA grad transfer OL Jake Burton discusses decision to commit to Baylor

New addition to the Baylor roster offensive lineman Jake Burton discusses his decision to leave UCLA and head to Baylor on SicEm365 Radio.

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SicEm365 Radio: Jake Burton will be the newest member of the Baylor football team UCLA, started all but one game the last couple of years with the Bruins and makes the commitment to leave UCLA and attend Baylor Jake, thanks for your time. I know it's a crazy busy day with travel. What went into the decision to seem like you entered the portal and boom, you are going to Baylor your thoughts about what happened,

Jake Burton: The opportunity to play this fall and why Baylor I've had a great time at UCLA and everything but after they decided that we're not going to have a full season. I'm a football player. I love playing football. I want to play football this fall. So, I just decided this to kind of throw my hat in the ring. And then when I got in the portal heard from Coach Aranda and after speaking with him, Coach Wickline, I knew that Baylor was the perfect fit.

SicEm365 Radio: They've had some issues with their depth on the offensive line. Obviously, they have people there that are coming back. They've been practicing this whole time. What's the turnaround here? How quickly can you be in Waco and what did they tell you about fitting in immediately and getting on on campus and in practice?

Jake Burton: That's what you know it's one of the reasons why I want to get this done like as quickly as possible so I can get out there and so I can get out there and get to work and like whatever coach Wickline needs me to do I'll do so like basically like I'm excited to go out and work my new teammates.

SicEm365 Radio: They contacted you I'm sure there's a bunch who did how many approximately schools did did hit you up once you hit the transfer portal.

Jake Burton: It was a crazy day yesterday but just after speaking with Coach Aranda and after speaking with Coach Wickline,I knew, that Baylor was the perfect fit after speaking with those guys.

SicEm365 Radio: What did coach Aranda tell you when he called you?

Jake Burton: He said, we have a great we have a great program here. We have a lot of great guys. We're building something great here and it'd be awesome. It'd be awesome if you're a part of it. And I couldn't pass that up. But you know, I don't know, just kind of like hearing from those guys and doing my research. Baylor like was a perfect fit for me.

SicEm365 Radio: When you make this decision and you've spent a lot of time you're from California, obviously played at UCLA and a two year starter 23 out of 24 starts I read your bio. Is it kind of a surreal time and what was it like when you saw the news and what was your reaction about this season when the PAC 12 decided they weren't gonna play football? It was real news.

Jake Burton: I had a great offseason. I was working hard and I was really excited for this upcoming season with my fellow Bruin teammates and for UCLA, but when that when the news happened you just kind of had to adapt and kind o, see where your next options are and this led me to where I am today.

SicEm365 Radio: Was it something that when it happened, you were like, wait a minute, what are we doing here? And then was it more frustrating? I'm just asking because the Big 12 the SEC in the ACC, and others say, Hey, we're going to still kind of plow forward was that in a way when they decided to do that something that caught your attention as Hey, I might be able to still play this year.

Jake Burton: Yeah, yeah, exactly. I mean, like, obviously the news broke about the PAC 12. You know I had my eye on the other conferences and kind of wait a little bit and kind of see like where they stood. And then once I realized that if they're gonna they're gonna play this fall, you know, I just kind of thought, you know this is a chance to play for me for the fall. So this would be this is a great opportunity.

SicEm365 Radio:Y our father told me that you're packing up, and of course, I'm annoying you as a pestering you with right now, but you have a lot to do today, to travel down to San Diego and then to fly into Texas. Is that going to be a whirlwind? Are you are you ready for that? Excitement kind of an adrenaline rushing away?

Jake Burton: Oh yeah, you know, I'm more than excited to get down there and get to work, you know, deal with Coach Wickline, deal with all my new teammates. I'm really excited just to get down there and get to work and help this team. Anyway that I can.

SicEm365 Radio: What is if you don't mind again, Jake Burton is our guest UCLA transfer headed to Baylor the part about making sure that when you get here that you earn your stripes, everyone knows your what you've done, how many games you've started, the talent you have the size and all your athleticism to be able to fit in so quickly is that something you feel like will be pretty easy for you because of your personality and what you do?

Jake Burton: I'm just excited to get down there and get to work. This game with the coaches, you know, do the best I can and do whatever I can to help this team win.

SicEm365 Radio: What about your father? He's a coach, right? He's In the coaching profession, what what that? What advice Has he given you, during these last few weeks or months, as things were kind of unsettled.

Jake Burton: Just kind of go with your heart, like, whatever you're feeling, if you want to play this fall, you have an option to go in the portal, just kind of just to see what's out there. And kind of agree that I want to play this role. I'm a football player, I love playing football, and we have kind of agreed that if there's a chance out there then like, might as well take it.

SicEm365 Radio: What is the timeline for you? There's not so much getting here, but do you have two years left because of the rule that came out? I know you're focused on just getting right now down to San Diego and then flying to Texas, but is that what if in fact you decide to play everything you can is it this year, and then possibly next is that on the table?

Jake Burton: I haven't really thought about that. I haven't looked into it that much. I'm just kind of trying to stay to take it one step at a time. So yeah, I just tried to take it one step at a time and take it day by day and then and then we'll go from there when you came out of high school committed to UCLA.

SicEm365 Radio: What were some of the other options you had at that time? Jake,

Jake Burton: Some of the options that I had were on Arizona, San Diego, the Colorado State, Fresno State and a lot of the other Mountain West schools

SicEm365 Radio: You're coming in from California to Texas, you're gonna be pretty fortunate although there is a hurricane coming into the coast right now. But you're gonna come in to where you've missed most of the dead of the heat of the summer it's gonna get hot it's not like it's not hot in California. Are you ready for like the culture change and how often have you been in Texas or visited Texas?

Jake Burton: This will be I think my second or third time actually in the state of Texas total so you know like it'll be different but you know, I mean, footballs football. I'm just I'm just excited for for that and then I'm excited for all these other opportunities that Baylor in the state of Texas can give.

SicEm365 Radio: Did coach Wickline mentioned anything other than just making sure you get down here and get to work he mentioned anything you played right tackle quite a bit was that brought up at all as far as a specific position?

Jake Burton: He was just excited just for me and just get to work, just to come learn your offense as quickly as I can. And then just told and then we basically discussed that basically, whatever I can to do to help the team win.

SicEm365 Radio: What is unique about Jake Burton outside of football, something that's a hobby, something that's unique about you something that you've, you've dealt with as a young man, anything that maybe Baylor football fans don't know about you, basically?

Jake Burton: I love to fish so I heard Texas, oh, yeah, fishing stuff. And then I love barbecue food too. So I'm really excited for that as well. So those are the only things really Dave Aranda. And Joe Wickline said right, there's an opportunity for you to play, there's barbecue and you love to fish there are ponds and lakes all throughout the state of Texas. Yeah, you know, so I heard though, pretty hard and fast.

SicEm365 Radio: What are your feelings now that you've made the decision? you're headed to Texas? What is the feeling like for you right now?

Jake Burton: Just excitement excited to get down there and be with my new teammates. I'm excited just to get to work and just you know, this is a this is a winning program. And I'm excited to help these guys win this year and in any way that I can change.

SicEm365 Radio: Thanks for your time. Safe travels. Thanks for your time. We'll see you when you get here. Awesome. Thank you so much. That's Jake Burton. He's the newest member of the beta football program will be officially here very soon.