MANHATTAN, Kan. – Following a school-record breaking performance last week at Texas Tech, senior kick returner Morgan Burns was named the Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.

The honor was the first in Burns’ career, while it was the second for the Wildcats this season after place kicker Jack Cantele was honored following the Louisiana Tech game. K-State has had 17 special teams player-of-the-week honors since 2011, while the Wildcats have had at least two accolades on special teams over the last eight seasons.

Burns recorded a school-record 221 kickoff-return yards against the Red Raiders, breaking the previous record held by Aubrey Quarles, who had 197 yards at North Texas in 2010. Burns took the first Texas Tech kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown, his second kickoff-return score this year after returning the season-opening kickoff 100 yards for a score against South Dakota.

Burns’ yardage total was the most by a Big 12 player since Texas’ Fozzy Whittaker went for 252 yards against Oklahoma State in 2010, while it is the third-highest total in the nation this season.

With his effort against the Red Raiders, Burns moved into fifth place in school history in career kickoff-return yards (1,112), while he entered the top-10 list for kickoff-return yards for a season as he is now fourth (678). He also moved into a tie for second place in school history in season kickoff-return touchdowns and into sole possession of third place for a career.

Kansas State takes on Iowa State this Saturday in an 11 a.m., contest at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The game can be seen nationally on FS1.

— KSU Athletics —