veteran, disruptive, and quietly productive for SMU
JaQwondis Burns is a 6-foot-2, 229-pound linebacker whose value comes from edge-to-box versatility and timely disruption; in the 2023 season at SMU, he played in 12 games with 14 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 2 sacks, and a fumble recovery, showing he can make splash plays even in a rotational role. He also brings experience from Minnesota, where he earned Academic All-Big Ten honors, and his recruiting background at IMG Academy hints at a high-floor, coachable defender who can fit a multiple front and add toughness, motor, and instinct to a defense.
