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PRO: In an effort to increase the physical size and athleticism of their team, the Dallas Cowboys used their second round draft choice (42nd overall) to select Kevin Burnett from the University of Tennessee in the 2005 NFL Draft. Burnett was plagued by injuries during his rookie season, having to undergo surgery at the end of training camp to clean out cartilage damage in his left knee and then major reconstructive surgery to repair the ACL in his right knee during the last week of the season. Sandwiched between those two injuries, he proved to be a valuable coverage player on special teams and got his first taste of action at outside linebacker as well. He spent the offseason rehabilitating his knee and should be healthy to battle for a role on the defense this fall.
2005: Burnett saw most of his playing time on special teams and finished the season with 11 tackles, tying him for fourth on the team. He was inactive for the first two games of the season following arthroscopic surgery on Sept. 8 to repair cartilage damage in his left knee. He saw his first NFL action on special teams at San Francisco (9/25). Against Philadelphia (10/9) he tied for the team led with two special teams tackles and added another tackle on special teams against Arizona (10/30). Against Philadelphia (11/14) he saw extensive playing time at linebacker and recorded two stops. He recorded two tackles and his first career sack as DeMarcus Ware's back-up at outside linebacker against Kansas City (12/11) while also adding a stop on special teams. At Washington (12/18) he added two tackles on defense and two more on special teams. He then led the team with three special teams tackles at Carolina (12/24). He landed on injured reserve Dec. 29 after tearing the ACL in his right knee during practice on Dec. 28.
COLLEGE: Burnett was a two-time All-Southeastern Conference selection and in 2003, he - along with offensive tackle Michael Munoz - became the first juniors to serve as team captains since 1944. In 2004 they became the first two-time captains since J.G. Lowe earned the honor in 1924-25. To wrap up his collegiate career, Burnett earned All-America and first-team All-Southeastern Conference honors while being selected as a semi-finalist for the Butkus Award and the Bronko Nagurski Award after posting a career-high 120 tackles, six stops for losses, a sack and an interception. After spending 2002 rehabilitating a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, Burnett returned to the playing field in 2003, started 12-of-13 games and garnered second-team All-SEC honors by registering 90 tackles, 7.5 stops for losses, eight pressures, three passes defensed and 1.5 sacks. Burnett tore the ACL in his left knee in the season opener of his junior season. As a sophomore, he played in 12 games, posting 52 tackles, 6.5 tackles for losses, 3.5 sacks and three pass deflections. Burnett saw action in 11 games as a freshman, recording 11 tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery.
PERSONAL: Kevin Bradley Burnett was a standout safety and running back for Dominquez High School in Compton, Calif., where he earned PrepStar All-America and second-team all-state honors as a safety following his senior season. He also was named all-conference as a running back having rushed for 650 yards and 16 touchdowns on 48 carries. He finished his prep career with seven interceptions while leading Dominquez to the state playoffs in 1998 and 1999. Burnett - who earned his degree in Sports Management - was a member of the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2002 and 2003 and the SEC and American Football Coaches Association Good Works teams in 2003. He earned his masters in Sports Management in 2004. As a rookie, Burnett was a member of the Cowboys 2005 Rookie Club - a program designed to introduce rookie team members to community service in the Dallas area which included work with The Salvation Army, Children's Medical Center Dallas and Meals on Wheels. | 