Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1532761
M A R C H 2 0 2 5 2 9 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / P L A Y E R B I O S / / / / / / / P enn State has always recruited well in Western Pennsylvania, but the Nittany Lions have been nothing short of dominant in the region over the past few classes. This year's contingent was particularly strong, with the Lions signing four of their top five targets in the 2025 class, including defensive end Dayshaun Burnett. The Imani Christian prospect earned an offer from lead recruiter Terry Smith in June 2023. By that point, Burnett had already visited Penn State five times. Two more visits, in July and September of 2023, put the Nittany Lions firmly in the lead. He decided to visit Pitt, Rut- gers, West Virginia and Wisconsin for games that fall, but in February 2024, he realized there was no reason to drag out his recruitment. "Big Ten football is a different kind of football. With Penn State being the kind of program they are, they can de- velop me not only as a player but also as a young man," Burnett said. "Also, I know I have coaches that care about me, so I know that I'm covered no mat- ter what." Listed at 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Bur- nett has the frame to play several posi- tions at the college level, but Penn State likes him best as an edge rusher. "He has the ability to be an NFL guy," said 2Tenths Speed & Agility founder DeWayne Brown, who's been working with Burnett since the fifth grade. "A guy like Dayshaun will fit well at Penn State. As long as he's doing his job, he's athletic enough that he can definitely get on the field after a season or two, show scouts how athletic he is and give them something to think about. In a lot of ways, he reminds me of [current PSU senior tight end] Khalil Dinkins athleti- cally. He has the athleticism to do any- thing he wants to do." Burnett finished as a four-star pros- pect at all four major recruiting sites. On3 previously had him as a high three- star player but upgraded his status in its final rankings update in February. "I really like Dayshaun Burnett," said Charles Power, On3's director of scout- ing and rankings. "I think he's pretty athletic and fluid. When you look at Penn State's class, I would tab him as a guy who's kind of a sleeper. I wouldn't be surprised at all if we look up in a cou- ple of years and Dayshaun Burnett is a draft pick. "When you turn on his senior film, he was productive. He had 11 sacks this season. He played both ways and had some long touchdown catches playing receiver. Then, when you see him rush off the edge, he's got that burst and the good bend you want to see. I think he has the framework to develop into a tal- ented pass rusher once he's able to fully focus on that at Penn State." — Ryan Snyder Burnett shined as a pass rusher at Imani Christian Academy in Pittsburgh, finishing with 11 sacks and 21 hurries as a senior. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER DAYSHAUN BURNETT Pittsburgh standout brings pass-rushing prowess to PSU's defense DE | 6-3 | 220 Imani Christian Academy Pittsburgh, Pa. Rankings Stars Nat. Pos. State On3 Industry ★★★★ 344 36 9 On3 ★★★★ — 38 7 247Sports ★★★★ — 36 9 ESPN ★★★★ — 12 13 Rivals ★★★★ — 27 9 Statistics • Totaled 75 tackles, 11 sacks and 21 quarter- back hurries as a senior • Finished with 78 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and an interception as a junior • Made 55 tackles and 6 sacks as a sopho- more • Combined for more than 1,850 rushing and receiving yards and 35 touchdowns during his high school career Notable • Was a four-year letterman and three-year team captain • Earned all-state honors in 2023 and '24 • Enrolled at Penn State in January Recruitment • Committed to Penn State on Feb. 7, 2024 • Recruited by cornerbacks coach Terry Smith • Picked the Nittany Lions over Pitt, Rutgers and West Virginia • Officially visited on June 14, 2024 2025 Projection The early feedback coming out of winter workouts has been positive. Penn State has enough depth at defensive end that he likely won't crack the two-deep, but Burnett could see reps in four games this season and is well- rounded enough that he should be a regular contributor in a few years. They Said It Imani Christian head coach LaRoi John- son: "Dayshaun Burnett is a dynamic athlete. We moved him all over. He's played corner, safety, linebacker and he played off the edge. With his body type, there's no telling what he'll grow into, but athletically, the kid can do everything on the football field. I think that he'll eventually transition into an edge rusher, but there's really no telling where he'll end up right now. I could see him playing in different packages as a linebacker, too." T H E B U R N E T T F I L E