Bo Burris
American football player (born 1944)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James England "Bo" Burris Jr. (born October 16, 1944) is an American former professional football player who was a safety for three seasons with the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Saints in the second round of the 1967 NFL/AFL draft. He played college football for the Houston Cougars as a quarterback.
Luling, Texas, U.S.
| No. 16 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Safety | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | October 16, 1944 Luling, Texas, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 195 lb (88 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Brazosport (Freeport, Texas) | ||||||||
| College | Houston (1963–1966) | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1967: 2nd round, 27th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Early life
James England Burris Jr. was born on October 16, 1944, in Luling, Texas.[1] He attended Brazosport High School in Freeport, Texas.[1]
College career
Burris was a member of the Houston Cougars from 1963 to 1966 as a quarterback.[1] He was a three-year letterman from 1964 to 1966.[1] He completed 24 of 61 passes (39.3%) for 326 yards, one touchdown, and nine interceptions in 1964 while also rushing for 154 yards and two touchdowns.[2] In 1965, he totaled 81 completions on 175 passing attempts (46.3%) for 1,256 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, and 81 rushing yards.[2] As a senior in 1966, he recorded 98 completions on 204 attempts (48.0%) for 1,666 yards, 22 touchdowns, and 21 interceptions while also rushing for 180 yards and four touchdowns.[2] His 22 passing touchdowns led the country that season while his 21 interceptions were the fourth-most in the country.[2]
Burris also played for the Houston Cougars baseball team in 1967 as an outfielder, totaling one home run, one triple, 15 RBIs, and 11 runs while tying for the team-lead with 15 stolen bases.[3] The Cougars advanced to the final round of the 1967 College World Series.[3] He graduated from the University of Houston College of Business Administration.[3] He was inducted into the University of Houston Athletics Hall of Honor in 1982.[4]
Professional career
Burris was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the second round, with the 27th overall pick, of the 1967 NFL draft as a defensive back.[5][6] He officially signed with the team on July 7, 1967.[7] He played in all 14 games, starting two at safety, for the Saints during the team's inaugural 1967 season and recovered one fumble.[5][1] He appeared in all 14 games for the second straight season, starting 13, in 1968 and intercepted three passes for 129 yards and one touchdown while also recovering two fumbles.[5] The Saints finished the 1968 season with a 4–9–1 record.[8] Burris played in 12 games, starting seven, in 1969, recording one interception.[5]
On May 4, 1970, Burris and Norman Davis were traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for Joe Scarpati and a 1971 tenth round draft pick.[7][9] Burris was released on September 15, 1970.[7]
Personal life
After his football career, Burris started a landscaping company called Landscape Innovations.[3] He appeared as an extra in the 1969 film Number One.[6]