USC countdown to kickoff: Recalling Trojans WR Deontay Burnett

NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos...

Countdown to kickoff is back! USC will kick off its 2026 football season on August 29 when the Trojans host San Jose State at the Coliseum. In this series, we will be counting down the days until the season opener by highlighting a notable Trojan who wore each number.

Today, we take a look at former USC wide receiver Deontay Burnett.

Position: Wide receiver

Years played at USC: 2015-2017

Career highlights: After a relatively quiet freshman season, Burnett broke out towards the end of his sophomore year. As a junior in 2017, he became USC’s No. 1 receiving option, catching 86 passes for 1114 yards and nine touchdowns. In a showdown with Texas, he had eight receptions for 123 yards and two touchdowns, including one in overtime, helping lead the Trojans to a statement victory.

Burnett will forever be remembered by USC fans, however, for his performance in the 2017 Rose Bowl vs. Penn State. That afternoon in Pasadena, he had one of the best single-game performances by a receiver in program history, catching 13 passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns. One of those touchdowns was the game-tying score with 1:20 left, as the Trojans would go on to win 52-49 on a walk-off field goal by kicker Matt Boeermeester.

The call by ESPN commentator Chris Fowler—”Touchdown! Deontay Burnett with the hat trick!”—will forever be entrenched in the minds of USC fans.

After USC: Following his junior season, Burnett somewhat surprisingly declared for the 2018 NFL Draft. However, he was not selected, instead signing with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent. Between 2018 and 2020, he appeared in nine regular season NFL games and one postseason game with the New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles, catching 16 passes for 215 yards across both.

Burnett currently plays for the Dallas Renegades of the United Football League.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football countdown to kickoff recalls Trojans WR Deontay Burnett

More at NCAAF College Football News, Photos, Stats, Scores, Schedule & Videos