Kansas State University Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Special Teams Quality Control
Will Burnham is in his third year as K-State’s Special Teams Quality Control coach in 2023. In his role, Burnham assists the coaching staff in all aspects of the Wildcat special teams.
Burnham helped the Wildcats earn a Big 12 Championship in 2022 as K-State ranked in the top 20 nationally in kickoff return defense (12th; 16.79), net punting (13th; 41.86), punt returns (14th; 13.21) and kickoff returns (18th; 22.97), the first program to rank in the top 20 nationally in those four units in a single season since 2002 (LSU). Additionally, K-State set school records in net punting, 50-plus yard punts (22), punts inside the 20-yard line (27) and kickoff touchbacks (51).
Ty Zentner earned All-Big 12 Second Team honors as a punter after his 44.5-yard average ranked second in school history, 18th nationally and second in the Big 12, which was impressive considering Zentner also served as the primary kickoff man throughout the season and took over place kicking duties the second half of the year. His biggest kick of the season was a game-winner in overtime of the 2022 Big 12 Championship.
In the return game, Phillip Brooks also picked up All-Big 12 Second Team honors and earned votes for the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year award after finishing second in the conference with 168 punt-return yards and one touchdown. The Wildcats also recorded a touchdown against South Dakota after a Seth Porter blocked punt was picked up by Desmond Purnell and returned 17 yards for a score.
In his first season in Manhattan – one that resulted in a victory over LSU in the Texas Bowl – Burnham helped scheme special teams units that led the Big 12 and tied for second in the nation with three touchdowns, which included one on a blocked punt return and two on kickoff returns. The kickoff-return unit ranked ninth in the nation with a 27.2-yard average, and the bulk of the returns were by Malik Knowles, who finished fourth nationally with a 33.1-yard average, while his two kickoff-return touchdowns ranked second as he earned Second Team All-America (Phil Steele) and First Team All-Big 12 (coaches) honors.
On the kicking side, Burnham helped devise a punting unit that was spearheaded by Zentner, who tied for fifth in school history with a 43.7-yard average en route to All-Big 12 accolades. The Wildcats also led the Big 12 in net kickoff average (43.5).
Burnham came to Manhattan after spending two seasons as a Special Teams Graduate Assistant at Virginia Tech. While in Blacksburg, Burnham helped coordinate a collective unit that ranked in the top three of the ACC both seasons in special teams efficiency, including a No. 11 national ranking in 2019. The Hokies ranked in the top five nationally in six different categories in both 2019 and 2020, the former helping Virginia Tech earn a berth into the Belk Bowl.
Burnham went to Virginia Tech after spending one season as a defensive backs graduate assistant at Marshall as the Thundering Herd earned a 9-4 record and won the 2018 Gasparilla Bowl. Burnham spent the 2016 and 2017 season as the tight ends and fullbacks coach at UT Martin as the Skyhawks picked up three FCS Top 25 victories during his two seasons.
A native of Lithia, Florida, Burnham played running back at Florida State from 2012 to 2014, helping the Seminoles become three-time ACC Champions, win the 2012 Orange Bowl and the 2013 National Championship. He then spent the 2015 season as a student assistant coach working with the running backs and special teams as FSU earned a 10-3 record and a trip to the Peach Bowl.
Burnham graduated from Florida State with a degree in marketing in December 2014, while he earned his master’s degree in sport management in 2016. He is married to the former Kaylan Figueroa.
