The Memphis Showboats made a couple of fascinating moves this Monday. They signed TE Thomas Burke to the roster, while letting DB Darius Phillips go in the process.
TE Thomas Burke
The UFL is all about providing opportunities, and that’s what we’re seeing with the addition of Thomas Burke to Memphis’ tight end room. GM Jim Monos and this Showboats organization continue to target younger talent, and do exactly that with Burke – who was eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Burke played all of his college football at the College of New Jersey. He burst onto the scene in 2022 as a sophomore, with 448 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Thomas continued to improve with each and every season – and dominated in his senior campaign, with 763 yards and six scores. As a senior, Thomas averaged 76.3 yards per game – an outstanding number for a tight end, especially at the D3 level.
He finished his TCNJ career with 1,763 receiving yards, alongside 15 touchdowns. In 2022, 2023, and 2024, Burke earned 1st Team All-NJAC honors.
Thomas was recently invited to the Seattle Seahawks rookie mini-camp, which he participated in during early May. While Burke wasn’t signed to a contract, Seattle liked what they saw – and encouraged him to look to develop – which has now led to him signing with the Memphis Showboats.
Burke will attempt to fit into a TE group that features Chris Pierce Jr. and Jay Jay Wilson. Neither one of those names has necessarily emerged as a game changer in Memphis – so look for Burke to see some snaps over the final couple of weeks. He’s essentially getting a pro…