Oct. 16, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. - UCF senior Joe Burnett (Eustis, Fla.) has been named to the mid-season All-America team by Sports Illustrated as a kick returner.
Burnett ranks fourth in the nation in kickoff returns, 10th in punt returns and, perhaps most impressively, 33rd in all-purpose yardage despite the fact that he does not have any rushing or receiving yards. Meanwhile, Burnett has two interceptions on defense.
Burnett is the only player in the nation to rank in the top 10 nationally in both punt and kickoff returns.
In his first year as a full-time kickoff returner, Burnett is averaging 32.47 yards per return to rank fourth nationally. He is one of two players with two kickoff returns for a touchdown this year, joining Derrick Williams of Penn State. Burnett's two kickoff return touchdowns were both of 91 yards and came against in-state foes USF and Miami. He now has five career special teams touchdowns when combined with his three punt return scores for UCF.
By far the active career leader in punt return yards nationwide with 1,231, Burnett is 10th nationally in 2008 with an average of 15.25 yards per return. Presently ranked 27th all-time in yardage, if Burnett can maintain his first-half pace for the remainder of the 2008 season, he will leave UCF in the NCAA's all-time top 10 for career punt return yards.
At 137.67 yards per game, Burnett's 33rd place standing on the 2008 national all-purpose yardage leaders list is especially impressive when you consider that he is the only player in the top 100 who has gained all of his yardage this season on special teams.
Defensively, Burnett is fourth on the Knights with 25 tackles, including two for a loss. He has broken up six passes and intercepted two more. Burnett owns UCF's lone blocked kick of the year, coming against USF, and returned a fumble 60 yards against SMU. The two interceptions give him 14 on his career which rank third in Conference USA history and establish a school record.
Burnett has helped UCF make a total of 13 interceptions so far this year as a team, a sum which ranks second in the nation behind only North Carolina's 14.
Burnett has been named first-team All-Conference USA five times in his career as a cornerback and a returner combined. He is the defending conference Special Teams Player of the Year.
The Knights are off this weekend and will return to action on Sunday night, Oct. 26 when they travel to face Tulsa in a rematch of both the 2005 and 2007 Conference USA Championship Games. Kickoff from Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium is set for 8:00 p.m. with ESPN broadcasting the game live nationwide.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.