Burnett started his track and field career at East Texas State University as a walk-on, non-scholarship athlete in 1964. Before long, Burnett ran his way into the Lions and Lone Star Conference record books. He holds school records in the 330-yard hurdles (37.6 in 1966) and 440-yard hurdles (52.5 in 1968). Burnett was a member of three relay teams that also set school records: the mile relay team with a time of 3:09.8 in 1967, the sprint medley team with a time of 3:19.4 in 1967 and the mile relay team that set an indoor mile relay record of 3:22.6 in 1967. He holds a Lone Star Conference record in the 330-yard hurdles at 37.6 set in 1966. Burnett was coached by Lone Star Conference Hall of Honor recipient and Lions Hall of Fame coach Delmar Brown and was a four-year letterwinner and team captain in his junior and senior seasons. Burnett helped lead the Lions to their third-straight Lone Star Conference championship in 1967. Following his distinguished career with the Lions, he went on to serve as a member of the Texas A&M University-Commerce Athletic Association.