LYNNFIELD — Every young football player, at some point in time, dreams of going pro. And for Lynnfield native Jake Burt, that dream has become a reality in the best way possible, as the former St. John’s Prep and Boston College tight end has signed a contract with his hometown New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent.
“It truly is a dream come true for Jake,” said Burt’s agent Sean Stellato, a Salem native and former professional football player himself. “I mean, what would be the odds of a kid growing up in Lynnfield, going to the Prep, going to BC and then signing with the Patriots? I don’t know if anyone’s ever done it before, but it’s a great story and we’re all very proud of him.”
Burt clearly caught the eye of the Patriots brass, signing a 3-year deal with $80,000 in guaranteed money — one of the biggest contracts for an undrafted tight end in this year’s draft class.
“I think it’s just a testament to Jake’s grit, drive and determination to continue to get better,” Stellato said. “The Patriots have this incredible ability to find high-caliber guys who know how to work but still fly under the radar.
“Jake’s contract is proof for a lot of players in this area who might not get the national coverage that there is an opportunity to make it to the league if you work hard enough,” Stellato added.
Hard work was the key for Burt, who has been a worker ever since his time at the Prep. After a senior season that saw him haul in 28 catches for 255 yards with seven touchdowns and earn All-State honors, the Lynnfield native earned a scholarship to Boston College in 2015. He then had to battle through some adversity in college, suffering some injuries that eventually forced him to redshirt in his sophomore year. But he came back strong in the latter half of his college career, capping it off with a strong 2019 season as a graduate student.
“Jake was in the trenches, and he was a key part of (BC star running back) AJ Dillon’s success in the backfield,” said Stellato. “Jake can be a blocker and a wide receiver, and he really fits in with that “blue-collar” attitude that the Patriots value at that position.”
Following his time in college, Burt continued to work to try and prepare himself for the next level. He continued to work out at Athletic Evolution in Woburn, then he eventually made a trip down to Tampa, Fla. to work out with speed coach Ron Jones at Fit To Go. Things got thrown for a loop once the coronavirus pandemic shut down gyms, athletic fields and travel, but Burt continued to adapt.
“Jake’s ability to adapt to the changing scenarios and transition quickly has really been impressive during this process,” Stellato said. “With all of this going on, we’ve had to find creative ways to keep him working and keep him in shape. Ron really helped with the speed aspect and getting that stuff on camera, and I think that Jake could’ve had the fastest 40-yard dash time for a tight end at this year’s combine.”
After the NFL Draft came to a close on Saturday night, teams quickly got to work calling all the players on their radar who didn’t get picked. Burt signed his new contract with the Patriots in his childhood home alongside his parents, Scott and Dawn. Things still hadn’t really settled in for Burt until ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter sent out a tweet to his nearly eight million followers announcing the deal.
“That’s when it became real for him,” Stellato said. “It was a very exciting moment.”
But the easy part is over now, as crazy as that sounds. Now, it’s time to work towards making the team.
