Major Burns passes on the NFL Draft, will return to LSU
LSU starting safety Major Burns has announced his decision to pass up entering the 2024 NFL Draft and return to Baton Rouge for a final season.
Burns revealed the news on his Twitter account on Thursday.
“After much though and consideration I will be returning to LSU this year,” Burns wrote. “I’m looking forward to earning my degree and finishing what I started.”
Burns led LSU’s defense is tackles this past season with 93 tackles, adding three tackles for a loss, a sack, an interception, a defensive touchdown, two quarterback hurries and three passes broken up.
Burns has spent three seasons with the Tigers, making 23 starts in 27 games played. During that stretch, the LSU defensive back has logged 156 tackles.
Prior to enrolling at Georgia, where he initially signed before transferring to LSU, Burns was a four-star recruit and the No. 178 overall prospect in the 2020 recruiting class, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.
He also checked in as the No. 12 safety and the No. 6 overall player in the state of Louisiana after a solid high school career at Madison Prep in Baton Rouge.
Burns played more snaps on defense (771) during LSU’s 12-game regular season than anyone on roster, followed closely by Andre Sam. Sam is out of eligibility, meaning the Tigers will lose one of the team’s two starters at safety.
LSU landed Sam’s presumed replacement in Texas A&M transfer Jardin Gilbert, another Baton Rouge native and former four-star who left the state for college before hitting the portal and joining the Tigers.
Gilbert entered the 2023 season as a starter at Texas A&M, but had his junior season cut short after suffering a shoulder injury after just two games. In those two games, Gilbert had five tackles, a pass breakup and was in on a tackle for loss.
In 2022, Gilbert made double-digit starts for the Aggies, finishing the year with 61 tackles, six pass breakups and two interceptions.
In total, Gilbert played in 23 games during his two seasons in College Station.
