After attending Laney College and California State University, Long Beach, he was selected in the first round of the 1971 NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers.
[3] Burns holds the school records for career carries, rushing yards, points, and touchdowns of the now defunct Long Beach State 49ers football program.
[2] He also caught ten passes for 149 yards and a touchdown as the Long Beach State 49ers finished second in their conference with a record of eight wins and three losses.
[9] Since the 49ers had upset the Aztecs in a matchup on November 20, Long Beach State qualified for the 1970 Pasadena Bowl, where they played the Louisville Cardinals.
[11] In his two years at Long Beach State, Burns set school records for career carries, rushing yards, touchdowns, and points scored.
He was one of three Long Beach State players named first-team All-American (along with Terry Metcalf and Billy Parks) and became one of two to be selected in the 1st round of the NFL draft (along with Dan Bunz).
[14] On January 31, 1972, a day before the 1972 NFL draft, Burns was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for running back Cid Edwards.