Burnett is working his way into the UNLV backfield mix

Steve Guiremand

Friday, Aug. 15, 2003 | 9:14 a.m.

It all seemed so easy for Deon Burnett.

As a true freshman out of Claremont (Calif.) High School in 1999, Burnett started 10 games for Washington State. He rushed for 974 yards, which shattered Rueben Mayes' school freshman rushing mark and was just 95 yards shy of the Pac-10 freshman record by Stanford's Darrin Nelson. He also earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 recognition.

But as he begins his final year of college eligibility, Burnett now finds himself battling just to make the depth-chart at tailback-rich UNLV. And since his impressive college debut in Pullman, he has rushed for a grand total of 389 yards and scored just two touchdowns.

"Let's say I just get in for two plays this year," said Burnett, a 5-foot-11, 220-pounder. "The one thing I've learned is to just work hard, because coming off my freshman and sophomore years I didn't have to work as I have to now because it all came so easy.

"Now every play is so critical as I try to climb my way back up that ladder. And a hard work ethic is something that you can carry on into the rest of your life."

Burnett transferred to UNLV following a turbulent sophomore season at Washington State that first saw him lose his starting job and ended with Burnett storming in frustration out of the Cougars' locker room at halftime of Washington's State's 51-3 loss to Washington.

"That was a blowup," Burnett says. "That was just me being stupid. There was a lot of stuff that led to that."

A few weeks later Burnett and then-Cougar head coach Mike Price decided it would be best for both parties if Burnett was to transfer. He enrolled at UNLV a few months later and then redshirted for the 2001 campaign.

Despite a big buildup last season, Burnett saw very limited action, carrying just 16 times for 44 yards and one touchdown. Now the fifth-year senior finds himself in a logjam of tailback talent that also includes senior Larry Croom, junior Dominique Dorsey as well as highly touted junior college transfer Alvin Marshall.

"We have a ton of great backs here," Burnett said. "Coach (John Robinson) has said he's going to try and get us all in. We'll see. But competition to me only brings out the best in you. We have a scrimmage on Saturday night and then another next week. We'll see who comes out on top."

Washington State went to the Rose Bowl the year after Burnett left. He says he doesn't have any regrets about transferring but said it was tough at home during the holidays.

"I'll be honest," Burnett said. "I'm sitting at home with my parents on New Year's Day watching the Rose Bowl and of course I'm going to wonder what that's like. Then to see all my buddies on that team coming back home with DVD's and these big old rings. But I try not to have any regrets. I decided to do what I thought was best for me."