Kevin Burkett started playing football at an early age. He was in kindergarten when he first picked up the pigskin and jumped headfirst into the sport that he would fall in love with. Like other kids, his dream was to play in the National Football League and shine on the big stage. But as he got older, he realized the harsh reality of it.
“You realize how difficult of a thing that is,” Burkett said. “Coaches always tell you only the top .1% of the .1% get to go, and they use that to motivate you, but you realize how stacked against you the odds are.”
Elon doesn’t often send players to the NFL — only 19 have ever made it, and the last one drafted was in 2019.
During his first two years at Elon as an offensive lineman, Burkett wasn’t optimistic about his football future. He assumed he would play his four years of college and then move on to a regular job. However, his perspective shifted during his junior year when he played a key role in blocking for an Elon team that rushed for a total of 1,418 yards in 2023. As his performance improved, so did his confidence. Heading into his senior season, Burkett started to believe that if he played well, he might have a real chance at the next level of football.
Burkett excelled in his final year at Elon, earning first team All-CAA honors and being ranked by Pro Football Focus as the top pass protecting offensive lineman in all of FCS Football. While he approached the season like any other, he placed greater emphasis on smaller details, hoping to catch the eye of NFL scouts.
“I don’t want to worry so much about me because it’s a team sport, but just knowing that this is my last year of guaranteed football that I have, so just an extra level of dedication, focus, attention to detail,” Burkett said. “It made me play better. It was like, ‘This is what I need to go to the next level.’”
Wide receiver and kick returner Chandler Brayboy also has his sights set on the NFL. After a standout career at Elon, Brayboy capped off his final season with back-to-back 100-yard games and became one of only two players in program history to record both 1,500 career receiving yards and 1,500 career kick return yards. Nationally recognized, he earned Second Team All-American honors from the Associated Press and was named the Phil Steele FCS Special Teams Player of the Year. Brayboy hopes to get into the league and get some special teams reps but slowly work his way into a second-string receiver.
Brayboy and Burkett are among several Elon players who have declared for the NFL draft, joining quarterback Matthew Downing, wide receiver Onuma Dieke, running back Rushawn Baker and defensive back Khalil Baker. The 2025 NFL Draft takes place April 24 to 26, however players had to submit a petition declaring their intent by Jan. 15.
After completing his nursing degree in the fall, Brayboy has spent the past few months training in Fort Myers, Florida, preparing for Pro Day testing events at X3 Performance and Physical Therapy. In January, he competed in the Hula Bowl, a college football All-Star game. His focus has been on improving speed, strength and football IQ. He believes understanding the game at a deeper level is just as crucial as physical training.
“You need to really understand what the coaches want and how they see the game, and how they see the defense and how you can disguise coverages,” Brayboy said. “I think that’s the biggest part that I’ve been working on, besides the physical part of the training for the verts, the bench and the 40. I’ve mostly been training the brain to really master football knowledge.”
Brayboy has most recently been preparing for a Pro Day exhibition. Pro Days are where players participate in drills and events to showcase their skills and athleticism in order to impress NFL teams. They include drills such as the 40-yard dash and position-specific exercises and body measurements like height and weight. For players like Brayboy who don’t make the cut for the NFL Scouting Combine, a week-long showcase in February hosted by the NFL, this is one of their only chances to meet with coaches and impress scouts.
“You train for a while for one day, so you only get one opportunity,” Brayboy said. “You’re training for three months to just dial in one day, which is pretty cool.”
Redshirt senior Chandler Brayboy celebrates during Elon's first home-game win of the season against Campbell on Nov. 2. Brayboy had his career high with 309 all-purpose yards.
Meanwhile, Burkett has been training at Elon with assistant athletics director for sports performance Nick DiMarco. In January, he traveled to Texas for the College Gridiron Showcase, a combine-style event. His training has focused on increasing strength and athleticism to improve his chances of getting noticed.
“I’m not guaranteed to be on a team next month so right now, the sole dedication is just to get a good number,” Burkett said. “So how can I be the smartest? Can I be the most athletic? Can I be the fastest and the strongest, so some team takes a chance on me?”
Burkett is still connecting with scouts but has filled out questionnaires for the Dallas Cowboys and the Indianapolis Colts. Brayboy, however, has talked to scouts from 19 different NFL teams, including the Kansas City Chiefs, the Philadelphia Eagles and the Baltimore Ravens.
Burkett doesn’t expect to get drafted, but hopes to get a rookie camp invite and get signed as an undrafted free agent. He dreams of joining the Tennessee Titans, allowing his family in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, close proximity to watch him play.
Brayboy is waiting to hear from scouts who attended his Pro Day. He estimates a 50% chance of being drafted on the final day, but believes signing as an undrafted free agent is a near certainty. In the meantime, he hopes to receive an invitation to visit an NFL team, where organizations can bring in up to 30 players to meet general managers and coaches.
Brayboy feels honored to have the opportunity to continue the legacy of Elon at the next level.
“I feel so blessed at the opportunity,” Brayboy said. “How am I the guy that got lucky to be talented with football? Just being the guy with the best next chance is pretty awesome.”