[align=center]Morgan Burnett | Safety | Georgia Tech | 6'1" - 209 lbs. [/align]
OVERVIEW
Perhaps not even the famed Willie Sutton was as good as a thief as Burnett has become. He seems like a natural playing centerfield for the Yellow Jackets, roaming the field like Willie Mays did on the baseball diamond. He appears to have hands made of Velcro, as he has proven that he can not only elevate to snatch the ball at its high point, but he has also become a crowd pleaser for his acrobatic moves to secure the pigskin.
Only one other player in Georgia Tech history, Willie Clay (16, 1988-91) had produced more interceptions than Burnett has (14), and it took Clay four years to do what the junior has done in three - create weekly nightmares for opposing quarterbacks and offensive coordinators.
Before someone assumes that Burnett is just a ball-hawk, they need to look at his statistical chart. They will see that he not only ranked with the team leaders in tackles each of his three seasons at the university, but the Tech record books show only seven other defensive backs in the history of the program registering more than his 235 career tackles, which was just 38 off the pace of the Yellow Jackets' position record.
Playing football seems to be a birthright in his family. Older brother, Cam, starred for in-state rivals, Georgia, from 1998-2002 and his cousin, Bruce Thornton, was also a star defensive back for the Bulldogs (1999-2003) before going on to play for Dallas and Jacksonville in the National Football League.
With those lofty figures attained by Burnett, it only seemed logical that he would try to test his skills at the next level, doing so when he decided to forgo his senior year and enter the 2010 NFL Draft.
"During the season, I didn't get caught up in whether I wanted to leave or not. I was just thinking championship, championship," Burnett said. "I didn't want to get into my thought process until after the Orange Bowl. I felt at peace with my decision. I felt confident with my decision."
Burnett was rated a four-star prospect by Rivals.com during his senior year at North Clayton High School. He earned Class AAAA first-team All-State accolades as a defensive back that season, after receiving All-State honorable mention at quarterback as a sophomore. He was rated the seventh-best safety in the country by Rivals.com and Super Prep regarded him as the state's fifth-best prospect.
A member of the Super 11 squad selected by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which also put him on its Top 50 in Georgia list, Burnett added Georgia Top 50 honors from the Macon Telegraph and was part of Orlando Sentinel's All-Southern team. The four-year starter and three-time team captain added Defensive Player of the Year honors for Clayton/Henry Counties in 2006.
Burnett recorded 135 tackles as a senior and registered six interceptions, including three that he returned for touchdowns. He also gained 1,100 yards rushing, 875 yards receiving and 650 yards passing. He collected 101 tackles and five interceptions (one touchdown) as a junior, as well as totaling 950 yards rushing, 800 yards passing and 620 yards receiving.
Burnett saw considerable action as a true freshman at Georgia Tech in 2007. The Fresh-man All-Atlantic Coast Conference pick played in all thirteen games, subbing at both safety positions whole seeing action at nickel back. His only starting assignment came when he was shifted to left cornerback vs. North Carolina. He finished fifth on the team with 57 tackles (37 solos), including a sack, as he picked off three passes and deflected seven others.
As a sophomore, Burnett was named All-American second-team and All-ACC first-team, as he led the conference and tied for third in the nation with seven interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. He started all thirteen games at rover, leading the team with a career-high 93 tackles (62 solos), adding seven stops for loss. He also broke up eight passes and even had one rushing attempt, coming vs. Gardner-Webb.
Offensive coordinators game-planned to stay far away from Burnett's territory in 2009, but the second-team All-ACC choice still managed to come up with four interceptions. He also broke up four passes and made four of his 85 tackles (second on the team) behind the line of scrimmage.
CAREER NOTES
Burnett started 28-of-40 games at Georgia Tech - 27 at "Rover" and one at left cornerback, recording 235 tackles (147 solos) with an 8-yard sack and 13.5 stops for losses of 40 yards...Caused and recovered two fumbles, as he also blocked a kick and carried once for a 1-yard gain...Deflected nineteen passes and intercepted fourteen others for 135 yards in returns (9.64 avg)...Returned one of his fumble recoveries 26 yards...His fourteen pass thefts are topped by only Willie Clay's sixteen (1988-91) on the school career-record list... His seven interceptions in 2008 are surpassed by only Jeff Ford (nine in 1969), Willie Clay (nine in 1991) and Randy Rhino (eight in 1972) on Tech's season-record chart...Came up with multiple interceptions in three contests (North Carolina in 2009, Jacksonville State and Clemson in 2008)...Recorded 235 tackles for the Yellow Jackets, as just Jeremy Muyres (273, 1999-02), Ken Swilling (267, 1988-91), Dawan Landry (250, 2002-05), Mark Sheffield (244, 1979-82), James Butler (240, 2001-04), Lethon Flowers (238, 1991-94) and Travares Tillman (236, 1996-99) had more among the defensive backs who played for Georgia Tech...His 93 tackles in 2008 rank tenth on the school's season-record list for defensive backs and were the most by a Yellow Jacket defensive back since James Butler posted 119 hits in 2003.
2009 SEASON
All-Atlantic Coast Conference second-team selection by The NFL Draft Report and the league's coaches...Named ACC Player of the Week vs. North Carolina...Served as one of the team's three captains...Started all fourteen games at the rover position, finishing second on the squad with 85 tackles (48 solos), including four stops for losses of 11 yards...Caused and recovered a fumble...Deflected four passes and had four interceptions for 40 yards in returns...Also blocked a kick...Of his 85 tackles, 17 came on third-down snaps (nine vs. the run, eight vs. the pass) and three others were on fourth-down action... Proved to be the team's last line of defense, as he delivered fourteen of those hits inside the red zone, including four on goal-line plays...In addition to his eight passes defended, he rerouted/jammed receivers on eight other pass attempts.
2008 SEASON
All-American first-team selection by Pro Football Weekly, adding second-team honors from The NFL Draft Report, Rivals.com, Sports Illustrated and The Sporting News...All-ACC first-team pick...Started all thirteen games at the rover position, as the College Football News Sophomore All-American led the team with a career-high 93 tackles (62 solos), making seven of those stops behind the line of scrimmage...Caused a fumble and deflected eight passes...Led the conference and ranked third in the nation with seven interceptions for 95 yards in returns, including one touchdown...His seven pass thefts rank fourth on the school season-record list...Ranked 18th in the nation with fifteen passes defended...Also got to carry the ball once, good for a 1-yard gain vs. Gardner-Webb.
2007 SEASON
Freshman All-American and All-ACC pick by The Sporting News...Played in all thirteen games as a reserve at both safety positions, but earned his only starting assignment at left cornerback vs. North Carolina...Recorded 57 tackles (37 solos) with an 8-yard sack and 2.5 stops for losses of 11 yards...Intercepted three passes and deflected seven others...Also recovered a fumble.
CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS
4.54 in the 40-yard dash...1.57 10-yard dash...2.62 20-yard dash...4.31 20-yard shuttle... 7.12 three-cone drill...34-inch vertical jump...9'6" broad jump...Bench pressed 225 pounds 16 times...31 3/4-inch arm length...9-inch hands.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended North Clayton (Ga.) High School, playing football for head coach Don Shockley... Rated a four-star prospect by Rivals.com during his senior year...Earned Class AAAA first-team All-State accolades as a defensive back that season, after receiving All-State honorable mention at quarterback as a sophomore...Rated the seventh-best safety in the country by Rivals.com and Super Prep regarded him as the state's fifth-best prospect...A member of the Super 11 squad selected by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which also put him on its Top 50 in Georgia list, Burnett added Georgia Top 50 honors from the Macon Telegraph and was part of Orlando Sentinel's All-Southern team...The four-year starter and three-time team captain added Defensive Player of the Year honors for Clayton/Henry Counties in 2006...Recorded 135 tackles as a senior and registered six interceptions, including three that he returned for touchdowns...Also gained 1,100 yards rushing, 875 yards receiving and 650 yards passing...Collected 101 tackles and five interceptions (one touchdown) as a junior, as well as totaling 950 yards rushing, 800 yards passing and 620 yards receiving.
PERSONAL
Management major...Older brother, Cam, starred for in-state rivals, Georgia, from 1998-2002 and his cousin, Bruce Thornton, was also a star defensive back for the Bulldogs (1999-2003) before going on to play for Dallas and Jacksonville in the National Football League...Son of Ellary and Cap Burnett...Born Morgan Mark Burnett ...Resides in College Park, Georgia.