Burford began his collegiate career playing for Idaho State, and transferred to Cal Poly after the 1998 season.[2][3][4]
On November 4, 2000, Burford passed for 566 yards[5] against 24th-ranked Northern Iowa, a single-game Cal Poly record,[6] in a 43-41 loss. Two days later on November 6, 2000, ESPN/USA Today selected Burford as the national Division I-AA Offensive Player of the Week.[7]
Collegiate Statistics
School
Year
GP
Comp.
Pass Att.
Pct.
Passing Yds.
LG
TD
INT
Rush Att.
Rush. Yds.
Avg.
LG
Rush TD
Idaho State
1997 (Fr.)
n/a
56
120
46.7
690
45
2
4
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Idaho State
1998 (So.)
11
75
139
54.0
951
69
7
3
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
(Transfer)
1999 (RS)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Cal Poly
2000 (Jr.)
11
175
306
57.2
2,672
80
23
7
109
252
2.3
31
6
Cal Poly
2001 (Sr.)
12
112
211
53.1
1,610
95
13
5
132
367
2.8
33
11
Totals
n/a
418
776
53.9
5,923
95
45
19
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Professional career
San Diego Chargers
Before the 2002 NFL draft Burford was regarded as a potential 4th to 7th round pick.[8] Scouts praised his "size, speed and strong arm" but were concerned about his "shoulder problems and his accuracy."[8] The Chargers selected Burford in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL draft with the 216th overall pick.[9] He was rostered as the number-three quarterback, behind Drew Brees and Doug Flutie, with San Diego for the 2002 season, but didn't play in a regular-season game.
Burford was allocated to NFL Europe in 2003 to play for the Barcelona Dragons. He started 10 games, throwing for 1,054 yards along with eight touchdowns and three interceptions.[10] Burford was released by the Chargers after the 2003 preseason, on August 31, 2003.[11][12][13] Burford's best preseason game came on August 28, 2002 during a 27-3 road loss to San Francisco, as he went 4-of-6 for a team-high 50 passing yards, and also rushed for 10 yards on three carries in the exhibition finale.[14]
Kansas City Chiefs
In January 2004, he signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs, who were hoping to draft him in 2002 before the Chargers took him.[15] However, he was released on June 28, 2004.[16]
