E. J. Burt
Encyclopedia
Emmanuel Jamaal 'E.J.' Burt (born October 22, 1977 in Akron, Ohio
) is an American football
defensive lineman for the Orlando Predators
of the Arena Football League.
, and played football there during the 1996 and 1997 seasons. In 1998, he transferred to West Liberty State
, and played in their team as well. He was named Conference Player of the Year in both 1999 and 2000, as well Division II All-American for both seasons. He still holds several records for the team, including record sacks in a year (48), record sacks in a season (17) and number of career tackles for a loss (83.5). He graduated from West Liberty in 2000, with a Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design.
. He played 16 games of the season, alternating between the Offensive and Defensive Lineman positions. His notable stats for the season were 31 tackles, 9.5 sacks, and causing 8 forced fumbles. At the end of the season, head coach Fran Papasedero said about Burt:
At the end of the 2003 season, the Predators offered Burt an additional two year contract to remain with them, which he signed. In the news release regarding this, Burt was called "one of the great “rags to riches” stories in the AFL." In the 2004 season, he again played in 16 games for the Predators, again in both the Offensive and Defensive Lineman positions. His notable stats while there were a total of 19.5 tackles and 6.5 sacks.
In 2005, he again played 16 games for the team, and was recorded as having 30.5 tackles, 8.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and four pass break ups. At the end of the season, he was named Second Team All-Arena.
, and played for them for the 2006 season. He played in 16 games with the Soul, and was credited with 8 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
for the 2007 season. During the season, he had a total of 21.5 total tackles, 6 sacks, five pass break ups and four forced fumbles.
for the 2008 Season. As of January 2008, he was ranked 12th on the AFL’s all-time list for sacks in a career. His notable stats for the 2008 season were 5 tackles, 2 sacks and one forced fumble.
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
) is an American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
defensive lineman for the Orlando Predators
Orlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...
of the Arena Football League.
College career
Burt enrolled in the University of AkronUniversity of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
, and played football there during the 1996 and 1997 seasons. In 1998, he transferred to West Liberty State
West Liberty State College
West Liberty University is a school located in West Liberty, West Virginia, United States, near Wheeling. Formerly known as West Liberty State College, West Liberty University is an institution in northern West Virginia offering a variety of degrees, undergraduate and graduate...
, and played in their team as well. He was named Conference Player of the Year in both 1999 and 2000, as well Division II All-American for both seasons. He still holds several records for the team, including record sacks in a year (48), record sacks in a season (17) and number of career tackles for a loss (83.5). He graduated from West Liberty in 2000, with a Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design.
National Indoor Football League
Burt played for the Ohio Valley Greyhounds team, in the National Indoor Football League, for the 2001 season.Arena Football 2 League
In 2002, Burt played for the Cape Fear Wildcats, a North Carolina team in the Arena Football 2 League. At the end of the season, he was named All-Arena Football 2 League Player, and Arena Football 2 League Lineman of the Year.Orlando Predators
Burt was signed for the 2003 season of the Orlando PredatorsOrlando Predators
The Orlando Predators are an Arena Football League team based in Orlando, Florida that was founded in 1991. Their playoff streak is currently 19 seasons in a row, as of the season, becoming the ArenaBowl champions in 1998 and 2000...
. He played 16 games of the season, alternating between the Offensive and Defensive Lineman positions. His notable stats for the season were 31 tackles, 9.5 sacks, and causing 8 forced fumbles. At the end of the season, head coach Fran Papasedero said about Burt:
With his tremendous quickness, I felt defense would not be a problem. Offensively, he had pretty good feet, he just didn’t know how to use them. I felt if we brought him along slowly, he would have a chance to contribute. As it turned out, we looked like geniuses for signing him, but honestly, we had our doubts just like everyone else.Burt was one of three Predators players who were voted into the AFL's All-Rookie Team at the end of the season.
At the end of the 2003 season, the Predators offered Burt an additional two year contract to remain with them, which he signed. In the news release regarding this, Burt was called "one of the great “rags to riches” stories in the AFL." In the 2004 season, he again played in 16 games for the Predators, again in both the Offensive and Defensive Lineman positions. His notable stats while there were a total of 19.5 tackles and 6.5 sacks.
In 2005, he again played 16 games for the team, and was recorded as having 30.5 tackles, 8.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and four pass break ups. At the end of the season, he was named Second Team All-Arena.
Philadelphia Soul
At the end of the 2005 season, Burt became a Free Agent. He was signed with the Philadelphia SoulPhiladelphia Soul
The Philadelphia Soul are an Arena Football League team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They began play in as an expansion team. The team plays in the Eastern Division of the American Conference. They won their first ArenaBowl in 2008, defeating the San Jose SaberCats 59–56 in ArenaBowl XXII...
, and played for them for the 2006 season. He played in 16 games with the Soul, and was credited with 8 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
Chicago Rush
Burt was signed by the Chicago RushChicago Rush
The Chicago Rush is an arena football team based in Rosemont, Illinois. It is a member of the Central Division of the National Conference of the Arena Football League. The team was founded in 2001 and is co-owned by Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame player and coach.The Rush have qualified for the...
for the 2007 season. During the season, he had a total of 21.5 total tackles, 6 sacks, five pass break ups and four forced fumbles.
Utah Blaze
Burt was signed by the Utah BlazeUtah Blaze
The Utah Blaze is a professional arena football team based in Salt Lake City, Utah and competes in the West division of the Arena Football League. Home games are played at the EnergySolutions Arena.-The original Utah Blaze :...
for the 2008 Season. As of January 2008, he was ranked 12th on the AFL’s all-time list for sacks in a career. His notable stats for the 2008 season were 5 tackles, 2 sacks and one forced fumble.