Former University of Kentucky football player Vincent “Sweet Pea” Burns has died at age 43, according to Kentucky Football on X.
Burns was a three-year starter and a two-year team captain with the Wildcats.
During his junior season (2002), Burns made an immediate splash in the Division I-A ranks by earning second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors in his first season with the Wildcats. Burns started all 12 games as he led UK’s defensive line in tackles (65) and tackles for loss (14.5 for -51 yards). He tied for the team lead in fumbles caused and fumbles recovered with two in each category.
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In 2003, Burns had 72 tackles – which was the most by a defensive lineman since Joey Couch in 1991 and 18 tackles for loss, which was an SEC best that year.
The All-SEC defensive lineman went on to play in the NFL for Indianapolis Colts in the NFL after he was drafted in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft.
The cause of death is unknown but a fundraiser has been set up on GoFundMe to help support Burns’s family and can be found here.