University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
Banks and Burkhart Ink NFL Free Agent Contracts
4/27/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 27, 2010
HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Southern Miss tight end Leroy Banks and offensive lineman Kyle Burkhart have signed free agent contracts with National Football League teams.
Banks, a two-year letterwinner for the Golden Eagles at tight end, has signed a deal with the Atlanta Falcons, while Burkhart, a two-year letterwinner as well, has inked with the Seattle Seahawks.
Banks caught 29 passes for 375 yards and three touchdowns during his senior campaign which included season-high 53 yards games against both Kansas and Louisville. The Memphis, Tenn., native, who transferred from Coahoma Community College, caught passes in 10 games during 2009 including an acrobatic touchdown reception in the season opener against Alcorn State.
Over his two seasons, Banks caught 34 passes for 462 yards and four touchdowns, while also proving to be a valuable blocker for the Golden Eagles which went over 5,000 yards of total offense in both seasons.
After starting at left tackle his first season with the Golden Eagles as a junior during coach Larry Fedora's first season, Burkhart moved to right tackle last year and started all 13 games. The Kinsley, Kan., product transferred from Dodge City Community College.
Burkhart helped blocked for the school's all-time leading rusher, Damion Fletcher, the last two seasons as the Golden Eagles went over 2,000 yards rushing in each of his two seasons.
