VincentBurns

All-Southeastern Conference (second team) by The Associated Press (2002)

One of the most pleasant developments of the 2002 season was the play of this transfer from I-AA Northern Arizona … A high-intensity player whose motor runs full speed all the time … Counted on to be a leader of a defense that returns only four starters from last season … Team’s leading returning tackler … Will enter the season with a streak of six consecutive games with at least one tackle for loss … Known by the nickname “Sweet Pea,” given by his family when he was a baby … Has played and started 12 games.

2002 (Junior): Made an immediate splash in the Division I-A ranks by earning second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors in his first playing season with the Wildcats … Started all 12 games … Led the defensive line in tackles with 65 stops … Led the team in tackles for loss with 14.5 for -51 yards … Came on strong at the end of the season, as all three of his quarterback sacks occured in the last four games of the season … His first sack scored a safety in the win over Mississippi State … Tied for the team lead in fumbles caused and fumbles recovered with two in each category … Added nine quarterback hurries and two pass breakups … Totaled a career-high 10 tackles, along with two quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery, in the win over Indiana … Had career highs with three tackles for loss against Middle Tennessee and Georgia.

2001 (Sophomore): Transferred to UK from Northern Arizona … Practiced with the Wildcats but was not eligible to play because of the transfer rule.

2000 (Freshman): Saw action in nine games at Northern Arizona … Made 27 tackles … Ranked second on the team in tackles for loss with 11 (-33 yards) … Also recorded three sacks (-15) … Intercepted a pass at Montana … Claimed two sacks against Montana State … Had season-high seven tackles against Southern Utah.

High School: First-team all-state as a senior at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Ga. … Also the player of the year in his region … Helped Lowndes to the Class AAAA state championship his senior season … Named Most Valuable Player of the state championship game after blocking a punt and scoring the first touchdown of the game … Led team with 23 tackles for loss and 15 quarterback sacks during the season and also tallied three defensive touchdowns … Caught 15 passes on offense and scored five TDs … Coached by Milt Miller … Selected to play in the Georgia North-South All-Star Game in the summer following his senior season … Competed in the shot put in track and field and was a power forward on the basketball team his sophomore and junior seasons.

Personal: Full name is Vincent Eric Burns, Jr. … Born 6-21-81 in Valdosta, Ga. … Son of Hank Burns and Lavern Gardner … Major is kinesiology.

The Cats’ Cause: Participated in a service event at the Ronald McDonald House (2002).

Burns Career Statistics

Year Position       G-GS Tackles TFL-Yds. Sacks-Yds. FR FC PBU Safety2002 Defensive End 12-12   65    14.5-51     3-22     2  2  2    1

Burns Game-by-Game Statistics

2002Opponent        Tackles TFL-Yds. Sacks-Yds.Louisville         5      2-6         0Texas-El Paso      2       0          0Middle Tennessee   5      3-7         0Indiana           10    0.5-1         0Florida            5       0          0South Carolina     4       0          0Arkansas           7    1.5-5         0Georgia            6      3-5         0Mississippi State  6    1.5-8        1-6Louisiana State    4      1-8        1-8Vanderbilt         4      1-3         0Tennessee          7      1-8        1-8Totals            65   14.5-51       3-22