After Penn State took care of business at West Virginia Saturday, one of its commits made an early candidate for Play of the Year.
He caught the ball around his 37-yard line. Then, he broke two tackles, trucked three defenders, broke another tackle and ran his way into the end zone.
Meant to post this way sooner, but oh my. Watch Penn State commit Dayshaun Burnett here. Play of the Year contender for sure, and he doesn’t even play on playing offense at the college level. pic.twitter.com/Cq2NAlF2rz
— Joe Smeltzer (@joesmeltzer775) September 5, 2024
This play would have been impressive for any RB or receiver. But what’s scary is that this guy has no intention of playing offense at the college level.
Dayshaun Burnett is his name, and he plans on being part of Penn State’s tradition of defensive greatness.
Burnett is listed as a linebacker.
But he can also play defensive end.
And cornerback.
And running back.
And tight end
And receiver.
“I’m playing a whole bunch of positions,” he told Nittany Sports Now.
Burnett, a star at Pittsburgh’s Imani Christian High School, has versatility that’s reminiscent of another Pittsburgh area product that committed to and ultimately signed with Penn State.
Ta’Mere Robinson was a standout at Brashear High School before college, and like Burnett, could play multiple positions.
Now, Robinson is a rising linebacker who impressed his teammates and coaches over fall camp, and Burnett said he was a factor in getting him to commit to Penn State in February.
“I feel like he played a big part,” Burnett said. “He’s always in my ear talking about the goods, but also the bads, too, because there can also be bads to some schools. But he was mainly in my ear about the pros and cons of other schools. So I’m feeling really good.”
Burnett doesn’t plan on taking any more visits before December’s Signing Day, telling NSN he’s “locked in.”
The fact the Burnett no longer has to worry about recruiting makes him feel good, as well, compared to last season.
“I feel like it’s way better,” he said. “It’s a lot more off my chest. It feels like a weight that’s off my shoulders in a sense. So, yeah, I feel like I can go into the season with a straight mind, focus on winning the championship.”
Having a player like Burnett– who’s the No. 8 overall player in Pennsylvania per 247Sports– makes Imani coach LaRoi Johnson feel good, too.
“He’s grown tremendously just in one year,” Johnson told NSN. “I mean, he’s grown every year that I’ve had him. But just this year, I feel like he’s taken a huge, tremendous step forward with not only his playing ability but his leadership skills as well. He’s learned to become more confident and more vocal in his ability, and I think just being a unique athlete, when you’re a big athlete like him, you’re trying to figure out what exactly you are, what position exactly you’re going to play. So, in my opinion, just kind of going through the process has been tremendous.”
Toward the beginning of “the process,” Johnson knew he had a star.
“First day,” he said. “First day, I knew that.
“I knew his father (Jimmy Burnett), so I knew if he could be half the athlete his father was, he was going to be a Power Five guy. The first day, I told him, ‘you ready for me to change your life?’ Because, I’m telling you, you’re a big-time player. I don’t know what position yet, but you’re going to be one of my most highly recruited guys.”’
Johnson was right.
So where on the field will Burnett play in college?
Well, he made it clear that he wants to be in the defensive side, and the question is, at what position?
“I’m going to be a linebacker as well as defensive end,” he said. “As long as I’m on the defensive side of the ball, that’s cool.”
“I feel like, since I’m a versatile guy, (DC and LB coach Tom Allen) and (DL) Coach (Deion) Barnes could use me at defensive end and linebacker, so I could rotate in at either position.”
“He can do whatever you ask him to do,” Johnson said. “So if you want him to play linebacker or defensive end, he will play linebacker or defensive end. I think the kid has special ability with his hands. I think he has special ability with his route running, as a former tight end (myself).
Johnson sees Burnett as someone we could be watching in the NFL.
“He’s going to be a guy that has the potential to be a Sunday-type player,” he said, “as long as he does what he’s supposed to do and continues to grow and develop in his game and stay humble and continue to process and continue to grow. I know he has what it takes to get there.”
So who is Dayshaun Burnett away from football?
Burnett describes himself as a laid back guy who loves R&B, Rap Music and drawing.
Art was a hobby he discovered during the COVID pandemic while he was getting ready for high school, and Burnett plans on majoring in that at Penn State.
Since 2020, he’s made plenty of art on the football field, and Saturday, he’ll be at the place he plans on calling home soon.
“Just the environment, (excites me) he said. “Because the environment never changes up there. I’m excited to see all the Penn State fans and excited to see where I’m going to play in the future.”
Johnson describes his star player as a star off the field, too.
“He’s an absolutely great kid,” he said. “Somebody you would want your daughter to date.”
