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Stonka Burnside's move to safety should boost Mississippi State secondary

3rupauk8_400x400by:Robbie Faulk•about 9 hours•

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Stonka Burnside (Photo by Mississippi State Athletics)

It had been rumored for several months but Tuesday’s first spring practice brought a little more confirmation of Stonka Burnside’s future on the defensive side of the ball.

The Starkville native was the talk of many inside the Mississippi State fanbase during the 2024 season. One of the crown jewels of Jeff Lebby’s first signing class, Burnside was brought to State as a four-star wide receiver but reps at his position were hard to come by in year one.

While he sat behind some receivers as a freshman, Lebby found a place where he could help and he would take over a role on special teams. Through the SEC schedule, it became apparent that Burnside could have a special future on the defensive side of the ball as he played on the punt team like a heat seeking missile.

When asked about Burnside’s potential move to defense last season, Lebby acknowledged the possibility but also said it was something that would be addressed after the season. It’s been addressed, and Burnside spent his time in Friday’s first spring practice with the safety group.

“We felt like we have the opportunity in the receivers room to get some really good players and I think we have. Stonka has a chance to be an incredible player in whatever he does, but on the defensive side he gives us something that we haven’t had from a playmaking ability standpoint,” Lebby said. “He’s a guy that has great instincts for the football and has great physicality. I’m proud of that dude for buying into it and being excited about it while we’re still going to have the opportunity of sprinkling him in on offense. He’s taken it and ran with it. Excited about where that’s going to end up.”

Burnside was a special talent at Starkville High because he came out with the ability to play either side of the ball in the SEC. The On3 Industry Ranking tabbed him as a four-star and 275th nationally. He was the country’s No. 45 WR and the state of Mississippi’s eighth best player.

Starting as a freshman in high school for the Yellow Jackets, Burnside first showed his potential as a safety when he made six interceptions in his first two seasons of high school ball. Burnside began to transition more at wide receiver as a sophomore and he’d finish his career with 178 catches, 2,952 yards and 34 touchdowns and had back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.

Burnside led his team to a state champi0onship his junior year with another trip to the big game as a senior. He was named the Starkville Daily News Co-Offensive Player of the Year as a senior and he played in the Under Armour All-American Game as well as the Mississippi-Alabama All-Star Game.

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