FSU Football: Is Brian Burns most underrated player in ACC?

FSU football has been sending defensive ends to the NFL of late, but could the next great player at that spot also be getting the least amount of respect?

Over the past six NFL Drafts, the FSU football program has averaged having a defensive end taken every year with a total of six players being picked – three of them in 2013, followed by Mario Edwards Jr. to Oakland in 2015, DeMarcus Walker to Denver in 2017 and Josh Sweat to Philadelphia this past April.

Come next April, there could be another name added to that list of junior Brian Burns has an amazing season and goes pro – trust me, we’re not trying to kick him out of Tallahassee, but Burns has the potential to be playing in the pro game sooner rather than later.

After a freshman season in which he had nine and a half sacks and was named a freshman All-American. Like the rest of the FSU football team, Burns saw his numbers go down last season and he had just four and a half sacks while becoming the full time starter at one of the end positions.

Entering the 2018 season, Burns is still hearing his name mentioned across the country, but it’s usually after the fact and listed behind other defensive ends in the ACC.  Does that mean that Burns is the most underrated player in the conference entering this upcoming season.

During ACC Kickoff media days this past week, Burns acknowledged that his numbers drop last season was more about him having to learn about playing the game using more scheme instead of just relying on skill.

"“My freshman year I was going off pure athleticism doing what I could do. Coming into my sophomore year I was doing the same, and it didn’t work as you could see. But over the course of the season, I matured and learned to grow up, and I learned there’s other necessities that’s a part of this game that I have to take as far as watching film, taking care of my body, things like that. So that’s why you’ve seen those flashes at the end of the season, because I was growing up.”"

At the same time, the people who see Burns the most – the players on the offense of FSU football who see him every single day – have no problem with talking up their teammate as being a beast on the field.

"“He gives me trouble every day at practice, so I can imagine what he’s going to do to other teams,” running back Cam Akers said. “Just a great person on and off the field. He does everything he’s supposed to do, and I’m glad to have him as a teammate.”"

Burns is going to have his chance to shine and make national heads take notice this season with the murder’s row schedule FSU football will face. In his first two seasons, Burns has combined for six sacks in six games combined against Miami, Clemson and Florida.

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If he can duplicate that average this season and add big numbers in nationally televised games against Virginia Tech and Notre Dame, Burns could be setting himself up for national awards and a possible big pay day in the NFL come 2019.