Joe Burnett

Joe was an all state defensive back and punt returner for Eustis High School, Florida, where he still  holds the Florida state record for number of high school interceptions during his four varsity years at Eustis. 

He then become a record-setting cornerback and returner for the UCF Knights who was named a first-team All-American as a senior in 2008, helped UCF to its first two bowl berths (2005 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl, 2007 AutoZone Liberty Bowl) and the schools first ever conference championship in 2007.

Joe earned a total of eight career All-Conference USA honors, including a four-year sweep of the first-team punt returner award and was named Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Year as a senior.

Joe graduated in 19th place for most career punt return yards in NCAA history with 1,304. That sum is both a UCF and Conference USA record. He also set the UCF record and ranked second in C-USA history with 16 career interceptions. Joe also set UCF career records for most punt returns (96) and the most interception return yards (262) while tying the mark for most punt return touchdowns (3).

He played in 49 career games with 46 starts, amassing 221 career tackles (172) including 12 TFLs. He had 16 career interceptions and broke up 35 others and returned 96 punts for 1,304 yards (13.6 avg.) with three touchdowns and returned 26 kickoffs for 745 yards (28.7 avg.) and a pair of scored.

Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2009 Joe recorded an interception and a blocked kick his rookie season.  Joe then became a star in the CFL for several seasons and recorded a 106 yard pick 6 for the Edmonton Eskimos against the BC lions in 2012.

Joe is married with 3 children and resides in Eustis, Florida.