Kansas State's Morgan Burns named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week
The Big 12 Conference honored Morgan Burns on Monday.
The Kansas State senior defensive back was named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week after amassing 221 kickoff return yards against Texas Tech. His big day set a school record for kickoff return yardage in a single game and included a 93-yard return for a touchdown.
Burns’ yardage was the most by a Big 12 player since former Texas running back Fozzy Whittaker totaled 252 return yards against Oklahoma State in 2010.
Burns, a Wichita native, also received praise from K-State coach Bill Snyder on Monday. In particular, Snyder was proud of Burns for keeping his stamina up on kickoff returns while also defending Texas Tech’s offense for long stretches.
Snyder worried Burns was fatigued and gave Burns the option to skip kickoff return duties on Saturday, but Burns refused.
“What impressed me so much was here he is on a long drive with their offense, lining up and the corners have to run every snap,” Snyder said. “He plays 14 or 15 snaps and jumps right back in as a kickoff returner, knowing that there is a lot of running involved there. It was his attitude as much as anything that was significant to me.”
K-State lost to Texas Tech 59-44. It will next play Iowa State on Saturday.
Kellis Robinett: @kellisrobinett
This story was originally published November 16, 2015 at 11:28 AM with the headline "Kansas State's Morgan Burns named Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week."