Georgia Tech wide receiver Nazir Burnett enters transfer portal

Georgia Tech freshman wide receiver Nazir Burnett has entered the transfer portal. Burnett, from Harrisburg, Pa., made the announcement Friday evening from his Twitter account.

Burnett’s decision was driven by the distance from home, Burnett’s stepfather told the AJC.

“It’s been just me, him and his mom for a long time,” Genaro “Buster” Elam said. “We kind of underestimated that separation.”

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Elam said that football was not part of the decision. Burnett had played in two games, including the Yellow Jackets’ loss to Temple in Philadelphia, not far from Burnett’s home.

“He was actually happy and getting better and comfortable with where he was at with football,” Elam said.

Elam said that coach Geoff Collins and his staff had tried to convince Burnett to stay – Collins recruited him after his hire at Tech in December – but were understanding of his decision.

Burnett will stay for the remainder of the semester but will not be with the team, Elam said. If Burnett transfers to another FBS school, he likely would have to sit out the 2020 season and then have three seasons of eligibility remaining. If he were to obtain an immediate-eligibility waiver, he would be able to play four seasons starting in 2020. He also could play four seasons at an FCS school.