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Arizona tight end Keyan Burnett is no longer with the football program. The pass catcher has opted to redshirt his senior season in order to preserve his NCAA eligibility.
He intends to transfer at season’s end. It will be his fourth portal entry in less than two years’ time.
Burnett has been with the team since signing as a high school recruit in 2022. He was rated as a four-star prospect and a Top 250 talent.
There was a bit of drama in his initial recruitment. Burnett committed to USC before backing off his pledge to sign with the Wildcats.
Some said the Trojans “mishandled” his recruitment after he had questions about his utilization in the offensive system. Others say his final visit to Arizona was enough to sway him.
Whatever the case, Burnett landed in Tucson where he’s spent the last four seasons. In that time, he’s totaled 26 catches for 272 yards and a touchdown.
That includes two receptions for 11 yards this year. It now appears he’s played his last snap Arizona.
Keyan Burnett is no longer with the Wildcats.
Arizona tight end Keyan Burnett is no longer with the program and is expected to enter the transfer portal, a source tells @On3sports.
Former four-star recruit has 26 career catches and will have a year of eligibility remaining. @JustinESports first. https://t.co/wMrfFrdlE6 pic.twitter.com/jkEwrKE9ym
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) October 8, 2025
He’s appeared in four games this year but has dealt with a hamstring injury. Rather than battle through that setback while potentially missing time, he’s opted to get back to 100% and preserve his final season of eligibility.
Burnett plans to redshirt. He will then enter the transfer portal… for the fourth time in 20 months.
According to his 247 Sports bio, the tight end has been frequent flyer in the portal. His timeline can be seen below.
Keyan Burnett transfer portal activity
Jan 2024: Entered portal, withdrew five days later
Dec 2024: Entered portal, transferred to Kansas
Apr 2025: Entered portal, transferred back to Arizona
Oct 2025: Intends to enter portal, transfer
Burnett is not the only player to transfer multiple times within a few months’ time. He’s not the only person to request a redshirt in order to save a season of eligibility.
His case is extreme, however, at least given the activity over the last two seasons. It proves the NCAA’s move to adopt new transfer rules was necessary.
The NCAA is lessening transfer opportunities.
Notification of transfer window dates for DI football are approved by the DI Administrative Committee.
The committee’s action is not final until its meeting concludes Wednesday. Moving forward, DI football notification of transfer windows will be Jan 2-16, as recommended by the…
— NCAA News (@NCAA_PR) October 7, 2025
There will now be just one transfer portal window in January as opposed to a winter and spring session. That window will last two weeks.
There will still be an exception for coaching changes, though that window, too, is shrinking from 30 days to 15.
These changes will limit midseason transfers, as well as multiple occurrences similar to the situation seen with Keyan Burnett.
It should provide for more team continuity, limit tampering, and prevent coaches from having to re-recruit their own rosters every couple of months.
Free agency is coming to an end. Burnett is riding the last wave.