VFL Linebacker Kevin Burnett Named To 2025 SEC Football Legends Class

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Tennessee VFL linebacker Kevin Burnett, who starred on the Volunteers from 2000-04, has been named to the 2025 Southeastern Conference Football Legends Class, the league office announced Wednesday.

The 2025 SEC Football Legends class includes 16 former players who excelled on the gridiron and helped write the rich history of the sport at their respective institutions.

The class will be honored at the 2025 SEC Football "Weekend of Champions" Dec. 5-6 in Atlanta, Ga., highlighted by the annual SEC Legends Celebration presented by T-Mobile on Friday, Dec. 5 at the College Football Hall of Fame. The group will also be recognized prior to the SEC Football Championship Game, which will be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Burnett was an inspirational leader and two-time team captain who helped guide the Vols to back-to-back 10-win seasons, including the 2004 SEC Eastern Division title and a dominant 38-7 win over Texas A&M in the 2005 Cotton Bowl.

In 2004, he earned first-team All-America and All-SEC honors, finishing with 120 tackles and ranking third in the SEC in tackles per game. Burnett also shined in 2003, earning second-team All-SEC laurels and leading Tennessee to the Peach Bowl after key wins over Florida and Alabama. He concluded his college career with 274 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and eight sacks, and he was a 2004 semifinalist for both the Butkus and Bednarik Awards.

Burnett was selected in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He played nine NFL seasons, including four with the Cowboys (2005-08), two with San Diego (2009-10), two with Miami (2011-12) and one with Oakland (2013).

Off the field, Burnett was a three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member and earned both undergraduate and master's degrees from Tennessee.

2025 SEC Football Legends
Alabama - C.J. Mosley, Linebacker, 2010-13
Arkansas - Kenoy Kennedy, Safety, 1996-99
Auburn - Cam Newton, Quarterback, 2010
Florida - Brandon Spikes, Linebacker, 2006-09
Georgia - Randy Johnson, Offensive Guard, 1973-75
Kentucky - Jacob Tamme, Tight End, 2004-07
LSU - Tyrann Mathieu, Cornerback, 2010-11
Ole Miss – William "Bill" Smith, Punter, 1983-86
Mississippi State - Gabe Jackson, Offensive Guard, 2009-13
Missouri - Mitch Morse, Offensive Lineman, 2010-14
Oklahoma - Lucious Selmon, Nose Guard, 1970-73
South Carolina - Connor Shaw, Quarterback, 2010-13
Tennessee - Kevin Burnett, Linebacker, 2000-04
Texas - Derrick Johnson, Linebacker, 2001-04
Texas A&M - R.C. Slocum, Texas A&M, 1989-2002
Vanderbilt - Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt, 2010-13

Tennessee All-Time SEC Football Legends
1994 – Bob Johnson
1995 – Doug Atkins
1996 – Condredge Holloway
1997 – John Michels
1998 – Richmond Flowers
1999 – Steve Kiner
2000 – Steve DeLong
2001 – Stanley Morgan
2002 – Johnny Majors
2003 – Reggie White
2004 – Frank Emanuel
2005 – Larry Seivers
2006 – Chip Kell
2007 – Willie Gault
2008 – Doug Dickey
2009 – Heath Shuler
2010 – Al Wilson
2011 – Bobby Majors
2012 – Peerless Price
2013 – Inky Johnson
2014 – Todd Kelly
2015 – Chuck Smith
2016 – Deon Grant
2017 – Chad Clifton
2018 – Phillip Fulmer
2019 – Darwin Walker
2020 – no Legends class (COVID-19 season)
2021 – no Legends class
2022 – Peyton Manning
2023 – Joey Kent
2024 - Eric Berry
2025 - Kevin Burnett

University of Tennessee Athletics

VFL Linebacker Kevin Burnett Named To 2025 SEC Football Legends Class

Players Mentioned

Kevin Burnett

Jordan Matthews

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