Morgan Burnett
Encyclopedia
Morgan Mark Burnett is an American football
safety for the Green Bay Packers. He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology
and was drafted in the third round of the 2010 NFL draft with the 71st overall pick.
, Burnett attended North Clayton High School
, where he was named Class AAAA first-team all-state as a senior after earning honorable mention all-state recognition at quarterback
as a sophomore. He made 135 tackles as a senior and six interceptions including three that he returned for touchdowns.
Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com
, Burnett ranked seventh among safety prospects nation-wide. He was offered athletic scholarship by a number of high-major schools, including Alabama
, Florida
, South Carolina
, and Georgia
, before choosing to attend Georgia Tech on January 10, 2007.
As a sophomore in 2008, Burnett started all 13 games for the Yellow Jackets. He recorded 93 tackles, of which 62 were solo. Burnett also had seven interceptions and returned them for 95 yards. In the season opener vs. Jacksonville State, he picked off two Ryan Perrilloux
passes, returning one of them 47 yards. Later in the season, he picked off a Matthew Stafford
pass and returned it 35 yards for his first career touchdown at Georgia
. Burnett was named to a number of All-ACC and All-American teams, including Pro Football Weekly
′s 2008 All-America first team.
On January 11, 2010, Burnett announced he would enter his name in the 2010 NFL Draft
and forgo his senior season.
Burnett recorded his first career interception in week 2 of the 2010 NFL season against the Buffalo Bills.
However, on October 4, Burnett tore his ACL and missed the remainder of his rookie season. He was placed on injured reserve three days later .
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
safety for the Green Bay Packers. He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
and was drafted in the third round of the 2010 NFL draft with the 71st overall pick.
High school career
A native of College Park, GeorgiaCollege Park, Georgia
College Park is a city located partly in Fulton County, Georgia and partially in Clayton County, Georgia, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 13,942...
, Burnett attended North Clayton High School
North Clayton High School
North Clayton High School is a four-year public high school located in College Park, Georgia, United States, as part of the Clayton County Public Schools....
, where he was named Class AAAA first-team all-state as a senior after earning honorable mention all-state recognition at quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
as a sophomore. He made 135 tackles as a senior and six interceptions including three that he returned for touchdowns.
Considered a four-star recruit by Rivals.com
Rivals.com
Rivals.com is a network of websites that focus mainly on college football and basketball recruiting. The network was started in 1996 and currently employs more than 300 personnel.-Schools:The individual collegiate sites can be found...
, Burnett ranked seventh among safety prospects nation-wide. He was offered athletic scholarship by a number of high-major schools, including Alabama
University of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
, Florida
University of Florida
The University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
, South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
, and Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
, before choosing to attend Georgia Tech on January 10, 2007.
College career
As a freshman, Burnett played in all 13 games and started against UNC. He subbed at safety and came in on the nickel package all season. Burnett led the team in interceptions (3) and ranked fifth on the team in tackles (57, 37 solo). He subsequently earned ACC All-Freshman team by Sporting News.As a sophomore in 2008, Burnett started all 13 games for the Yellow Jackets. He recorded 93 tackles, of which 62 were solo. Burnett also had seven interceptions and returned them for 95 yards. In the season opener vs. Jacksonville State, he picked off two Ryan Perrilloux
Ryan Perrilloux
Ryan Anthony Perrilloux is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He was signed by the Hartford Colonials as a street free agent in 2010. He played college football at Jacksonville State.He previously played college football for the LSU Tigers...
passes, returning one of them 47 yards. Later in the season, he picked off a Matthew Stafford
Matthew Stafford
John Matthew Stafford is an American football quarterback for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Lions first overall in the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at the University of Georgia....
pass and returned it 35 yards for his first career touchdown at Georgia
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia is a public research university located in Athens, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1785, it is the oldest and largest of the state's institutions of higher learning and is one of multiple schools to claim the title of the oldest public university in the United States...
. Burnett was named to a number of All-ACC and All-American teams, including Pro Football Weekly
Pro Football Weekly
Pro Football Weekly is an American sports magazine, founded in 1967, that covers the National Football League...
′s 2008 All-America first team.
On January 11, 2010, Burnett announced he would enter his name in the 2010 NFL Draft
2010 NFL Draft
The 2010 NFL Draft was the 75th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. Unlike previous years, the 2010 draft took place over three days, at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, with the first round on Thursday, April 22, 2010, at 7:30 pm...
and forgo his senior season.
Professional career
On April 23, 2010, he was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2010 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers.Burnett recorded his first career interception in week 2 of the 2010 NFL season against the Buffalo Bills.
However, on October 4, Burnett tore his ACL and missed the remainder of his rookie season. He was placed on injured reserve three days later .