Brian Burns was a monster in high school, with 28 sacks as a junior and senior. But the five-star recruit got to Florida State rail thin at 218 pounds. He added 17 more in three years, but with the NFL on the horizon, Burns knew a 235-pound edge rusher wouldn't cut it, bulking up before the Combine to nearly 250.
"I did it by really understanding nutrition. Learning the things that stick to you, the good food, good weight that you put on your body and why it sticks. I put it on because I want to enhance my game. Take it to another level. I want to work on speed to power. I want to work on my long arm. I want to work certain things and with that I need the weight for it. I feel like as long as I can keep this weight on and move the same way I always move, I'll be fine,” said Burns.
Move Burns can, ripping off a 4.53 40 in Indy — not losing a step with the extra weight on his 6’4” frame. He was a consistent producer for the Seminoles, racking up 23 sacks and 38.5 tackles for a loss in three seasons.
"Pretty much do a lot of my moves off of speed. I got a lot of ways to win. I feel like I can go inside, outside, I've got a lot of counters... Because most guys are afraid of my speed and they start to kick and they start to really, really get vertical. I feel like once they turn it's over,” said Burns.
Burns’ stock is all over the first round, with top 10 potential, but more likely looking mid-to-late first.
Next we profile someone Burns singled out as one of the toughest he went against, Florida tackle Jawaan Taylor.