Burks Named AFL's Rookie of the Month
Published on June 6, 2002 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)
Dallas Desperados News Release
The Arena Football League today announced that Dallas Desperados offensive specialist Dialleo Burks was named May's AFL Rookie of the Month. In four games during the month of May, Burks caught 30 passes for 400 yards (13.3 avg.) and nine touchdowns while returning eight kickoffs for 89 yards (11.1).
Burks kicked off the month by posting five receptions for 43 yards (8.6) and two touchdowns and two kickoff returns for 12 yards in Dallas' home opener against Los Angeles (5/4). The following week at New York (5/11), he again totaled five catches for 58 yards (11.6) and two touchdowns while returning one kick for three yards.
He then had two breakout games, catching a career-high 11 passes for 135 yards (12.3) and returning one kick for 14 yards against Arizona (5/18) and catching nine passes for a career-high 164 yards (18.2) and five touchdowns while returning four kickoffs for 60 yards at San Jose (5/25).
With 47 catches for 603 yards (12.8) and 13 touchdowns on the season, Burks currently ranks eighth in the league in receptions, sixth in receiving yards, sixth in receiving yards-per-game (86.1) and tied for fifth in average yards-per-catch (among qualifiers).
In his first Arena Football League season, Burks moved to the indoor game after spending five seasons on the outdoor field. He began his professional career with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1996 â practice squad and active roster â before being out of football in 1997. He returned to the game in 1998 with the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe. He spent the spring of 1999 with Rhein before signing with the Carolina Panthers, where he spent the season on the team's practice squad. He was on the Panthers active roster for four games in 2000 before being waived, and he spent the spring of 2001 with the Orlando Rage of the XFL, leading the league with a 19.4 yards-per-catch average.
Burks is the Desperados first-ever Player of the Month honoree. He joins defensive specialist Hassan Shamsid-Deen â "ADT" Defensive Player of the Week for his performance at Los Angeles â as the franchise's first two league-wide award winners.
Burks and the rest of the Dallas Desperados return to Harrah's Field at American Airlines Center this weekend to face the Indiana Firebirds. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. and tickets are available by calling 972-785-4900, visiting metroplex TicketMaster locations or by ordering through the Desperados web site at www.dallasdesperados.com.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from June 6, 2002
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