Mike Burkhead
| No. 18, 7[1][2] | |||||||||||||
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| Position | Quarterback | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 200 lb (91 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school | South Dade (Homestead, Florida) | ||||||||||||
| College | Richmond (1984–1986) Florida State (1987) | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| Career AFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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Michael Burkhead[3] is an American former professional football quarterback who played one season with the Miami Hooters of the Arena Football League (AFL). He played college football at the University of Richmond.
Early life
[edit]Burkhead played high school football at South Dade Senior High School in Homestead, Florida.[4] He earned honorable mention All-Miami-Dade County honors his senior year in 1983.[5] He played college football for the Richmond Spiders of the University of Richmond. He was redshirted in 1984.[6] He was a letterman as a redshirt freshman in 1985.[7][8] In 1986, he transferred to play for the Florida State Seminoles of Florida State University.[9] However, he returned to the University of Richmond during the summer of 1986.[9] Burkhead was the backup to Bob Bleier during the 1986 season.[9] After the 1986 season, he transferred to Florida State again but had to sit out the 1987 season due to NCAA transfer rules.[3] He then quit football.[3]
Professional career
[edit]Burkhead signed with the Miami Hooters of the Arena Football League (AFL) on May 2, 1994, after being discovered at an open tryout camp.[10][4][11] Prior to signing with the Hooters, he had been playing flag football and working as an appraisor for Appraisal and Real Estate Economics Associates.[3] Burkhead was released by Miami before the start of the 1994 AFL season.[3][4] After Hooters starting quarterback Jim Jensen suffered an injury during the second week of the season, Burkhead was signed to backup Clemente Gordon.[3] On June 10, 1994, Burkhead replaced Gordon late in the third quarter of a game against the Orlando Predators, completing seven of nine passes for 51 yards while leading the team to two fourth quarter touchdowns as Miami lost 53–21.[12] With Gordon hampered by an injury, Burkhead was named the starter for the following week's game against the Milwaukee Mustangs on June 20.[3][4] Against the Mustangs, Burkhead completed 19 of 27 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for two touchdowns as the Hooters won by a score of 35–27.[4][13] Due to his strong play, Burkhead was named the starter over Gordon for the team's next game against the Tampa Bay Storm.[11] Burkhead completed 12 of 28 passes for 164 yards in the 47–32 loss to the Storm on June 25.[14] He started his third straight game on July 9 against the Arizona Rattlers, throwing for 197 yards and three touchdowns in a 41–26 loss.[15][16] Jensen then returned from injury and resumed his starting role for the Hooters.[17] Overall, Burkhead played in eight games during the 1994 season, completing 58 of 100 passes (58.0%) for 617 yards, nine touchdowns, and six interceptions while also rushing for two touchdowns.[7][18]
In January 1995, it was reported that Burkhead had signed with the Miami Centurion of the United Football Association.[19] He was in camp with the Hooters again in 1995 but did not end up making the team.[20]
References
[edit]- ↑ "Albany At Miami". South Florida Sun Sentinel. June 3, 1994. pp. 8C. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ↑ "Fort Worth At Miami". South Florida Sun Sentinel. August 5, 1994. pp. 8C. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Christopher, Andre (June 20, 1994). "Arena team switches starting QBs again". The Miami Herald. pp. 2D. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Murray, Ray (June 21, 1994). "Burkhead In Control". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on December 29, 2014. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ↑ Diaz, George (December 5, 1983). "A team that 'receives' praise". The Miami Herald. pp. 22D. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ↑ "State". Richmond Times-Dispatch. May 6, 1984. pp. B5. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- 1 2 "MIKE BURKHEAD". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ↑ O'Connor, John (March 23, 1986). "UR's QB depth chart very shallow". Richmond Times-Dispatch. pp. D6. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- 1 2 3 "Other football". Richmond Times-Dispatch. July 17, 1986. pp. D2. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ↑ "Deals". The Birmingham News. May 3, 1994. pp. 2E. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- 1 2 Christopher, Andre (June 25, 1994). "Burkhead earns 2nd start for Arena team". The Miami Herald. pp. 9D. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ↑ "Miami-Milwaukee matchup will feature two new faces". South Florida Sun Sentinel. June 20, 1994. pp. 2C. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ↑ "New QB Makes Big Start". The Palm Beach Post. June 22, 1994. pp. 2C. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ↑ Ryan, Dan (June 26, 1994). "Hewko's Hooters forecast clouded by Storm swarm". South Florida Sun Sentinel. pp. 19C. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ↑ "Stand-in quarterback helps Arizona hold off Miami 41-26". South Florida Sun Sentinel. July 10, 1994. pp. 16C. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ↑ "1994 Miami Hooters (Arena)". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ↑ Christopher, Andre (July 12, 1994). "Jensen brings offense back to Miami's Arena lineup". The Miami Herald. pp. 7D. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ↑ "Mike Burkhead". ArenaFan.com. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ↑ "PBA selects Duke, Ament as top player and rookie". South Florida Sun Sentinel. January 11, 1995. pp. 2C. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ↑ Doyel, Gregg (April 18, 1995). "Miami gets a revamp". The Miami Herald. pp. 3D. Retrieved July 1, 2025.