Troy’s Burton playing well now

TROY — Kennard Burton was chewed out, cussed out and nearly left out of Troy’s plans for the 2007 season.

The wide receiver came to Troy that spring after a two-year career at Dodge City Community College, where he played with former quarterback Omar Haugabook.

In fact, it was Haugabook who pushed Troy coaches to offer Burton a scholarship.

But that spring, he was having a hard time adjusting to the speed of the college game.

“We asked him to pay a lot of attention to detail, which he had never done,” offensive coordinator Neal Brown said. “After the spring, we didn’t think he was going to be a guy. We thought he’d redshirt.”

It didn’t faze Burton, now a senior and Troy’s second-leading receiver headed into Saturday’s 6 p.m. game with Florida International. Burton is from Pahokee, Fla., which isn’t far from FIU.

“I was getting chewed out, cussed out, a lot of F-words saying I wasn’t crap or whatever,” Burton said. “I took it as motivation, because I knew what I could do.”

That summer, the light came on. He worked harder, got faster and understood Troy’s spread offense better.

After a breakout game on national television against Oklahoma State last year, Burton had established himself in the rotation. A few games later, he was a full-time starter at the X-receiver (left outside) spot.

“I didn’t live up to the expectations that coaches had for me,” Burton said. “I didn’t give up on myself. I knew what I had to do, and I made it my duty to get better in the offseason.”

This year, his 24 catches and 251 yards ranks second on the team. He hasn’t found the end zone yet, but has made himself a reliable threat.

It’s similar to the spring of 2006, when fellow senior receiver Gerald Tate struggled to learn the offense, but Tate made himself a player last year and has been consistent this year though hampered by a hamstring injury.

“Last spring, (Burton) was one of our best receivers,” Brown said. “Now, he’s one of those guys we’re trying to get the ball to. Every time he’s gotten the ball, he’s making a play.”

Against OSU last year, a 41-23 Troy win, Burton caught five passes for 77 yards and a score. He was equally as impressive against Georgia, scoring on a 44-yard deep pass and catching five balls for 75 yards in a 44-34 loss to perhaps the nation’s hottest team at the time.

Troy looking for height: Troy’s two starting outside receivers, Burton and Mykeal Terry, are 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-8. None of the top backups are approaching 6 feet tall, making it tough to throw jump balls on fade routes against taller cornerbacks.

“We are short on the outside,” Brown said. “That’s one thing we’ve got to get corrected with recruiting.”

Troy is redshirting some height, as 6-foot-3 Josh Jarboe is sitting out due to transfer rules. TeBiarus Gill is 6-foot-2. Chip Reeves is 5-foot-11 with the frame to add weight. Reeves, a true freshman, has played sparingly this year.

“He’s got to get some muscle, and he’s got to learn how to play,” Brown said.

Troy has two tall receivers who are grayshirting in Felton Payton (6-foot-1) and Gavin Ellis (6-foot-6), but Ellis is likely an inside receiver. The Trojans will likely bring in three more receivers next year.