DALLAS – Sam Houston junior Tim Burns Jr. earned an honorable mention nod to the postseason all-CUSA team on Thursday, per a release from league officials. 

Burns was in his first year with the Bearkats after a standout career at Navarro College which saw him named SWJCFC Offensive Player of the Year honors and to the all-league first team as both a receiver and returner. He was an impactful piece for the Bearkats in 2025 and was one of only three players in the league to have a kickoff return for a touchdown.  

He played in all 12 of the Bearkats' games and earned his postseason honor despite only returning kicks for the final three games of the year. Burns made arguably one of the biggest plays of the season for the Kats in the win over Oregon State when he returned the opening kick of the second half back 98 yards for a score. 

That play was the first kickoff return for a touchdown for Sam Houston since 2017 and positioned the Bearkats for a second-half comeback which resulted in the team's first win of the year.  

Despite just 12 kickoff returns, Burns ranked fourth in the league with an average of 25.5 yards per return. He also hauled in a dozen passes at his wide receiver position for 228 yards and a touchdown, finding the end zone on a 59-yard scoring pass against UNLV.