Keyan Burnett’s homecoming has come to an end.
The senior tight end plans to sit out the remainder of the 2025 season in order to retain his final year of eligibility, according to a report by Justin Spears of the Arizona Daily Star. Burnett is no longer with the Arizona program.
Also gone from the team is redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Jarra ‘Bear’ Anderson, a transfer from Memphis.
Burnett, a 4-star recruit who was a member of the UA’s signature 2022 recruiting class, appeared in four games
this season and recorded two receptions, including one for six yards in Saturday’s 41-13 win over Oklahoma State. He missed the season opener with a hamstring injury that also limited his time in training camp.
In four years with the Wildcats Burnett played in 36 games with eight starts, catching 26 passes for 264 yards. His lone touchdown was a big one, helping seal Arizona’s win at then-unbeaten Utah to open Big 12 play last season.
The son of former UA linebacker Chester Burnett, Keyan transferred to Kansas during the offseason but returned to Tucson after spending the spring with the Jayhawks. He also entered the portal in the wake of Jedd Fisch’s departure to Washington but later withdrew.
Burnett’s departure further depletes an already thin tight end room. Season-opening starter Tyler Powell was lost for the year after getting hurt on the first offensive snap against Hawaii, and true freshman Kellan Ford has also been unavailable because of injury.
Senior Sam Olson has started the last five games, with senior Cam Barmore logging 77 snaps and redshirt sophomore Tyler Mustain also seeing time.
The loss of Anderson isn’t as impactful to Arizona’s defensive line, as he played four snaps in the opener but hasn’t seen the field since. Anderson missed all of 2024 after suffering an injury in training camp following his transfer from Memphis.
