Burnette attended Parkin High School, where he played football and basketball.
He transferred after his sophomore season to the University of Central Arkansas, where he played as a defensive tackle.
As a junior, he appeared in 13 games (3 starts), averaging 5.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per contest.
Burnette was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the 12th round (312th overall) of the 1985 NFL draft.
[6] After the NFLPA strike was declared on the third week of the 1987 season, those contests were canceled (reducing the 16 game season to 15) and the NFL decided that the games would be played with replacement players.