Randall Burks
Encyclopedia
Randall James Burks is a former NFL wide receiver
who played for the Chicago Bears
. Burks was known for his speed, described as "electrifying".
, Burks first gained notice in high school, in Idabel
. He set the state record for the indoor 60 yard dash, with a time of 6.1 seconds, and in 1970 and 1971 he was Oklahoma
state champion for the 100 yard dash. He first attended Oklahoma State University, but later transferred to the much smaller Southeastern Oklahoma State University
, where he was twice named All Conference, and in his senior year he was Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference and NAIA
District-9 Player of the Year. That same year, he was named All American as well as being voted most outstanding player for Southeastern Oklahoma State. That season Burks led the conference in receiving yardage, averaging 19.8 yards per game, for a total of 913 yards on the year. He scored eleven touchdowns
, and was the leading kickoff returner, with a 36.9 yard return average. He was drafted in the 8th round of the 1976 NFL Draft
by the St. Louis Cardinals
, but was cut late in the pre-season, and was signed by the Chicago Bears, where he played the 1977
season. In 1989
, Burks was voted into the Southeastern Oklahoma State Athletic Hall of Fame.
Burks is the current leader in receiving yards for players with one career game on their record after catching one pass for 55 yards for the Bears
in a December 5, 1976 game against the Seattle Seahawks
.
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
who played for the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Burks was known for his speed, described as "electrifying".
Athletic career
Born in Garvin, OklahomaGarvin, Oklahoma
Garvin is a town in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 143 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Garvin is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, this town has a total area of , all of it land....
, Burks first gained notice in high school, in Idabel
Idabel, Oklahoma
Idabel is a city in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 7,658 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of McCurtain County. The town is located in the tourist area Kiamichi Country.-History:...
. He set the state record for the indoor 60 yard dash, with a time of 6.1 seconds, and in 1970 and 1971 he was Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
state champion for the 100 yard dash. He first attended Oklahoma State University, but later transferred to the much smaller Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University
Southeastern Oklahoma State University, often referred to as Southeastern and abbreviated as SE, or SOSU, is a public university located in Durant, Oklahoma, with an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 4,229 as of 2009.-History:...
, where he was twice named All Conference, and in his senior year he was Oklahoma Intercollegiate Conference and NAIA
National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that organizes college and university-level athletic programs. Membership in the NAIA consists of smaller colleges and universities across the United States. The NAIA allows colleges and universities outside the USA...
District-9 Player of the Year. That same year, he was named All American as well as being voted most outstanding player for Southeastern Oklahoma State. That season Burks led the conference in receiving yardage, averaging 19.8 yards per game, for a total of 913 yards on the year. He scored eleven touchdowns
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
, and was the leading kickoff returner, with a 36.9 yard return average. He was drafted in the 8th round of the 1976 NFL Draft
1976 NFL Draft
The 1976 National Football League Draft was an annual player selection meeting held on April 8–April 9, 1976. It lasted 17 rounds, with the expansion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks making the first two selections. The expansion teams were also given a pair of extra picks at the end of...
by the St. Louis Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, but was cut late in the pre-season, and was signed by the Chicago Bears, where he played the 1977
1977 in sports
1977 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Ingemar Stenmark, Sweden** Women's overall season champion: Lise-Marie Morerod, Switzerland-American football:...
season. In 1989
1989 in sports
1989 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-Alpine skiing:* Alpine Skiing World Cup** Men's overall season champion: Marc Girardelli, Luxembourg** Women's overall season champion: Vreni Schneider, Switzerland-American football:...
, Burks was voted into the Southeastern Oklahoma State Athletic Hall of Fame.
Burks is the current leader in receiving yards for players with one career game on their record after catching one pass for 55 yards for the Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in a December 5, 1976 game against the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
.