FSU Football: Combine raises draft stock for Brian Burns

FSU football all but guaranteed seeing another one of their star defenders getting picked early in this April’s draft after this weekend’s combine.

Throughout the 2018 season that was one to forget for the FSU football team, there was one constant that was a bright spot for the Seminoles: the play of defensive end Brian Burns, who has been a shining star for the Noles during the three years he suited up in the garnet and gold No. 99 and dominated the field of play.

Ever since announcing he was turning pro and entering the 2019 NFL Draft, the question of where he would be picked has gone everywhere from a first round selection without a doubt to someone on the border with the chance he might have to wait until day two to hear his name called.

Well, after this weekend in Indianapolis, you can almost mark it down that Burns will be the next FSU football defensive end to hear his named called early on – as he shined throughout his drills to impress almost everyone.

When it was all said and done, Burns ran a 4.53 in the 40 yard dash (the third best among EDGE rushers) while finishing in the top six in the vertical jump and the top five in the three cone drill along with having the second best broad jump result at 129 inches.

At the same time, scouts were loving his moves on the field when it came to agility and showing that he is more than just a defensive end like he played in college.

Burns will be hearing his named called early on this April – with the EDGE position being one of the most watched because of the amount of talent out there, showcasing his talents on the national stage was the best thing he could have done and he didn’t disappoint.

The same can’t be said for the other two FSU football alums who took part in the combined. At defensive tackle, Demarcus Christmas finished with the worst three cone drill and 20 yard shuttle run times while tying for third worst on the broad jump and when it came to the bench press and second worst at the vertical jump.

Maybe the most disappointing – but not surprising to some after seeing his lack of effort in college – was wide receiver Nyqwan Murray, who blew a chance to impress scouts by having the worst broad jump, third worst bench press, sixth worst vertical jump and the second slowest time in the 40 yard dash.