Arizona tight end Keyan Burnett to redshirt, parts ways with the Wildcats

Arizona Wildcats senior tight end Keyan Burnett is redshirting and will miss the remainder of the season, sources told the Star Tuesday. 

Burnett played in four games this season and will exercise his redshirt to preserve an additional year of eligibility. Burnett will be away from the team this season and is expected to enter the transfer portal. Burnett's departure is a mutual parting of ways, per sources. 

Burnett suffered a hamstring injury in training camp and never fully recovered. In four games this season, Burnett recorded two receptions for 11 yards. Burnett will have one more season of eligibility. 

Burnett is the son of former Arizona linebacker and “Desert Swarm” member Chester Burnett, who was a Second-Team All-Pac-10 selection in 1996. 

The younger Burnett signed with Arizona as a four-star prospect in 2022 out of Servite High School in Anaheim, California. The 6-6, 248-pound Burnett was one of four Servite players to sign with Arizona in ‘22, along with wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, quarterback Noah Fifita and linebacker Jacob Manu. Burnett was the highest-rated tight end to sign with Arizona since Rob Gronkowski in 2007. 

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Burnett played his first two seasons behind tight end Tanner McLachlan, who was Arizona’s most productive tight end since Gronkowski. After McLachlan was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals last year, Burnett had a productive spring and fall training camp and appeared due for a breakout junior season, but injuries hindered Burnett throughout the season. 

Burnett's career at Arizona was highlighted by a game-sealing touchdown catch in Arizona's upset win over 10th-ranked Utah in Salt Lake City last season. Burnett has 26 catches for 272 yards and a touchdown. Burnett played for three different tight end coaches at Arizona: Jordan Paopao, Matt Adkins and Josh Miller.  

Following the 2024, Burnett transferred to Kansas in December, but after a few months in Lawrence, Burnett re-entered the transfer portal and returned to Arizona in the spring. 

Burnett's redshirt year thins Arizona's tight end group that lost starter Tyler Powell, who suffered a season-ending leg injury in the season opener against Hawaii. Freshman Kellan Ford is injured and hasn't played this season. Arizona's available tight ends include sixth-year senior and starter Sam Olson, Mercyhurst transfer Cameron Barmore and walk-ons Tyler Mustain and Kayden Luke. 

Arizona (4-1) hosts 18th-ranked BYU (5-0) at Arizona Stadium on Saturday at 5 p.m. on ESPN2.