Cornell Burbage facts for kids

Cornell Rodney Burbage was born on February 22, 1965. He is a former American football player. He played as a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He was known for playing with the Dallas Cowboys. Cornell also played for the New York/New Jersey Knights in the World League of American Football (WLAF). Before turning pro, he played college football at the University of Kentucky.

Early Life and College Football

Cornell Burbage went to Bryan Station High School. There, he played football with future NFL stars. Even though his team mostly ran the ball, he was still a great player. In his senior year, he earned top honors in both football and track.

He received a football scholarship to the University of Kentucky. The team's offense focused a lot on running plays. This meant Cornell did not get many chances to catch the ball. As a junior, he caught 25 passes for 418 yards. This was the most receiving yards on his team. He had a big game against Mississippi State University, catching 7 passes for 131 yards.

In his final college year (1986), he led his team in receiving. He caught 24 passes for 331 yards. He was also very good at returning kicks. He finished his college career with 64 catches for 988 yards. He did not score any touchdowns in college.

Professional Football Career

Playing for the Dallas Cowboys

After college, the Dallas Cowboys signed Cornell in 1987. He was not picked in the NFL draft. He was first released by the team in September.

Later in 1987, NFL players went on strike. The league decided to play games with replacement players. Cornell joined the Cowboys' replacement team. He played well, catching 3 passes for 110 yards. This included a 77-yard touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles. After the strike ended, he was released again.

In 1988, the Cowboys signed him again. He was released before the season started. But he was brought back in October because many receivers were hurt. He ended the year with the second-best kickoff return average in his conference. In 1989, he was placed on injured reserve because of a shoulder injury.

Other Teams and Leagues

Cornell Burbage also played for other teams. In 1990, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings. He was released before the season began.

He then joined the New York/New Jersey Knights in the World League of American Football (WLAF). This league was coached by Mouse Davis, who was famous for his "run and shoot" offense. Cornell led the league in kickoff return average. In 1992, he set a league record with a 101-yard kickoff return.

In 1991, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was released before the season started. He later played in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1993 but was released. In 1995, he signed with the Memphis Mad Dogs but was released before the season began.

Coaching Career

After his playing days, Cornell Burbage became a football coach. He coached at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School. He helped the team reach the state championship game in 1997. The next year, he moved to coach at his old high school, Bryan Station High School.

He worked as an offensive coordinator for three years. In 2004, he became the interim head coach at Kentucky State University. His team had a good record of 7 wins and 4 losses that season.

In 2006, he became the head coach at West Jessamine High School. Today, Cornell is an assistant coach at Bryan Station High School in Lexington, Kentucky.