A personal scouting favorite of mine, Burns is one of the best pure run stoppers in the state. He moves well for his massive size and can actually shoot gaps and chase down ball carriers. If I see him realize some of his pass-rushing upside as a senior, FCS schools will break down the door to earn his commitment.

Burns is an elite run defender, one of the best in the entire state. But that compliment doesn’t mean he can’t rush the passer. The raw numbers aren’t there yet, but he’s flashed an emerging pass-rushing move set. Physically, he’s college-ready and his success in the classroom means he’s an intriguing option for Ivy and Pioneer League teams, in addition to other FCS schools around the country.

Burns is a guy I think is one offer away from blowing up on the recruiting trail. He’s a high-academic, high-motor interior defensive lineman who is an elite run-stuffer. The pass-rushing moves will come along in time and I think he’s a strong Ivy League/high-academic FCS candidate. If he starts to flash more as a pass-rusher, he could move up into the FBS range.

Burns is huge and he holds up well at the point of attack. He’s at his best when he can two-gap and swallow up blockers to free up his linebackers. But that doesn’t mean he didn’t have good numbers. His 13 tackles for loss aren’t inflated and you can see most of them in his film, mostly as he stonewalls running backs on inside runs. He carries his weight well and we like how he moves.