2026 NFL Draft Prospect Interview: Brody Burke, DL, Carleton University 

• Name: Brody Burke
• Position: Defensive End / Tackle
• College: Carleton University 
• Height: 6’4.5
• Weight: 255lb
• Instagram: Brodydz

What makes you a top prospect at your position in the 2026 NFL Draft?

• I’m a versatile, high-motor player who can line up anywhere on the defensive line and contribute significantly on special teams. I have the frame, football IQ, and instinct to disrupt plays consistently. I’m unpredictable off the snap, and I bring pressure in ways that force offenses to adjust. I don’t take plays off, if someone lines up across from me thinking they can, that’s where I take over. I play with purpose, intensity, and a chip on my shoulder. My goal every snap is to make the opposing team wish they were playing someone else. I lead by example and elevate the standard around me, on the field, in the weight room, and in the locker room. I’m also just 21 years old, which means I still have a ton of ceiling left. I’m constantly looking to grow, whether that’s refining technique, building strength, or learning from the veterans around me. I’m coachable, driven, and nowhere near my peak. Drafting me means getting a young, relentless player who’s only going to keep rising.

What is one thing that NFL teams should know about you?

• I don’t just want to be great, I need to be. I have an untamed drive and a relentless edge when it comes to becoming the best version of myself. It might start as a personal obsession, but the moment I’m part of a team, that mindset spreads. My hunger to dominate doesn’t just elevate me, it pushes everyone around me to rise, compete, and win. 

If you could donate to one cause in the world, what would it be?

• Cancer. It affects too many people close to me, too early, and it’s still something we haven’t figured out. I’ve seen it take lives and change families forever. I don’t think there’s anything more real than trying to stop something that’s too powerful.

Who was your role model? 

• Sidney Crosby. I grew up in Canada watching hockey, so I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t him. He showed me what it means to carry yourself like a true pro, not just with talent, but with work ethic, discipline, and humility. He set the standard for what an athlete can do and should do on the way to the top.

Who is your favorite NFL team?

• Chicago Bears

Who is the most underrated teammate at your school? 

• Tucker Burke

What is your biggest pet peeve? 

• When people avoid confronting something that’s clearly affecting them. I’d rather take a straight punch to the face than deal with a bunch of jabs that drag on. Making excuses and dragging things out just to avoid a real solution isn’t how I operate.

Who is your favorite teacher ever?

• I had a sensei named Guy Ouellette, he’s the one teacher that made every lesson stick with me. I’ve had some good ones, but what I learned from karate taught me more than just movement. It taught me how to overcome obstacles, discipline, and how to stay committed to becoming the best person that I can be, both physically and mentally. That foundation still shows up in how I train, how I compete, and how I carry myself every day.

Overcoming adversity is what defines character, what was the hardest moment in your life to overcome? 

• Losing my grandpa. When he passed, a lot changed in my family — the dynamic, the energy, the way things felt. He was a big part of holding everything together, and I still feel like I had more to learn from him.

If you could have any franchise restaurant in your house what would it be?

• Subway by far

What is your favorite snack food? 

• Goldfish

What is your degree in? 

• Accounting

If you could have dinner with three people dead or alive, who would it be and why? 

• Both of my grandpas, I’d love to talk to them now that I’m grown and really understand life a bit more. There’s a lot I’d want to ask, and a lot I’d want to hear from them. And my younger sister can come along.

What is your biggest weakness?

• Impatience, especially when it comes to walking away from things that don’t really matter. Once I start something, my mindset is to push until I see results. That mentality drives me, but it doesn’t always serve me in every situation. I can get caught up trying to prove myself in areas where it’s not needed, or stay locked into things that just end up draining time and energy. I’m learning that sometimes, the smarter play is knowing when to let go.