Keenan Burton

Infobox NFLactive
name=Keenan Burton


caption =
currentteam=St. Louis Rams
currentnumber=14
currentposition=Wide receiver
|birthdate=birth date and age|1984|10|29
birthplace=Louisville, Kentucky
heightft=6
heightin=1
weight=200
debutyear=
debutteam=
college=Kentucky
draftyear=2008
draftround=4
draftpick=128
pastteams=
* St. Louis Rams (2008-present)
status=Active
highlights=
* First-team All-SEC (2006)
statweek=
statseason=
statlabel1=
statvalue1=
statlabel2=
statvalue2=
statlabel3=
statvalue3=
nfl=BUR769332

Keenan Burton (born October 29, 1984 in city-state|Louisville|Kentucky) is an American football wide receiver for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Rams in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Kentucky.

Early years

Burton attended DuPont Manual Magnet High School in Louisville, Kentucky and was a letterman in football for the Crimsons. At the school he played many positions from quarterback to safety. He started the last three of his four seasons with the team, lining up mostly at quarterback on offense, although he did see some action as a receiver, running back, and kick returner. He helped the school attend four Class-AAAA State Playoffs. Burton carried the ball 274 times for 1,634 yards (6.0-yard average) and 25 touchdowns during his career. He completed 81 of 226 passes (35.8%) for 1,605 yards and 17 scores. He also recorded 98 tackles, along with 30 pass deflections and 10 interceptions, returning two of those picks for touchdowns, adding another score on a punt return. [http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/keenan-burton?id=202 NFL.com - Combine- Keenan Burton] ] Burton was named the MVP of the Kentucky/Tennessee High School All-Star game in 2003

College career

Burton attended college at the University of Kentucky and participated in their football program while attending the school for a degree in Agricultural communications. Burton turned down offers from Northwestern University, Indiana University, Marshall University, University of Louisville, Miami University (Ohio) and Boston College.

During his tenure on the football team in the 2004 and 2005 seasons he would only play in 8 games. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/gamelog?playerId=146699&year=2004 ESPN - Keenan Burton - 2004 Game Log] ] [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/gamelog?playerId=146699&year=2005 ESPN - Keenan Burton - 2005 Game Log] ] Prior to the 2004 season opener, Burton suffered a left wrist fracture and would play in the first game before being side lined by the coaching staff. In 2005 he would suffer a foot injury that would result in two surgeries.

Burton played in 45 games total in his career at Kentucky as a wide receiver and kick returner. He ranks fourth in school history in receptions, third in receiving yards, second in touchdowns, and he ranks third in all purpose yards and was the fifth player to amass over 4,000 all purpose yards.

2006

In 2006, Keenan would flourish since he wasn't plagued with injuries for the first time since 2003. Burton led the Wildcats with 77 receptions for 1,036 yards and 12 touchdowns. He led the Wildcats in kick returns, averaging 24.7 yards per return. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/gamelog?playerId=146699&year=2006 ESPN - Keenan Burton - 2006 Game Log] ] He had one kickoff return for a touchdown in the team's season opener in Louisville. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/profile?playerId=146699 ESPN - Keenan Burton Profile] ] In his kick returning duties he ranked second in the SEC. He was the third player ever in the schools history to go over a 1,000 yards receiving in a single season and his 12 touchdowns ranked 2nd on the single season chart for the school.

The team would play in the Music City Bowl and Burton would catch only 5 passes for 30 yards in the game. However Kentucky went on to win the game.

2007

Burton began his senior season with the Wildcats strong. In the first five games of the season he would compile 422 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/player/gamelog?playerId=146699&year=2007 ESPN - Keenan Burton - 2007 Game Log] ] However struck by flu like symptoms and sprains in the knee and ankle would limit his playing time. He still managed to lead the team for the season in receiving with 685 yards and 9 touchdowns.

The team earned another trip to the Music City Bowl and again Burton would be limited in his performance. He would catch 7 passes for 56 yards. The team would win the game just as they did last year despite the low performance.

Burton would skip the Senior Bowl to undergo arthroscopic surgery on his knee following the completion of the season. [ [http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/profile.php?pyid=10717 NFL Draft Scout - Keenan Burton] ]

Professional career

Pre-draft

Burton, along with Kentucky teammate Andre Woodson, was invited to the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana. Burton was a top performer in the vertical jump, broad jump, 3 cone drill, 20 yard shuttle, and 60 yard shuttle events at the combine. He placed first in the vertical jump with a 38.5 in. high jump. Burton also placed third in the 60-yard shuttle with a time of 11.36 seconds.

t. Louis Rams

Burton would be selected 128th overall in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams. He signed a three-year contract with the Rams on July 4.

References

External links

* [http://ukathletics.com/index.php?s=&url_channel_id=39&change_well_id=2&url_article_id=10630 Kentucky Wildcats bio]
* [http://www.stlouisrams.com/team/players/67535/ St. Louis Rams bio]