Transfer wide receiver James Burns backs out of UNT commitment

That group continued to dwindle Saturday when Austin Peay transfer James Burns backed out of his commitment to UNT to commit to Connecticut.

Burns announced that he had decommitted from UNT early in the afternoon. An hour later, he posted a photo of himself on a visit to UConn and said he is committed to the Huskies.

“Business is business,” Burns wrote.

The 5-foot-8 slot receiver committed to UNT in May.

Burns finished with 39 receptions for 517 yards and five touchdowns last season for Austin Peay. The North Carolina native entered the transfer portal on May 1.

Burns is a graduate transfer with two seasons of eligibility remaining. Troy and Texas State offered him scholarships in addition to UNT and UConn.

Burns started his career at Miami (Ohio), where he spent three years. He finished with 20 catches for 506 yards and a touchdown in 2019, when his average of 25.3 yards per catch led the nation among freshman wide receivers.

Burns posted a 63-yard catch against Louisiana-Lafayette in the LendingTree Bowl. That big-play ability was sure to land Burns a second opportunity to play at the Football Bowl Subdivision level after he elected to transfer from Austin Peay. The Governors compete on the Football Championship Subdivision level.

For a while, it appeared as if Burns would land at UNT. He changed course Saturday and committed to UConn.

UNT has added several transfers since the end of spring practice, including former Arizona State defensive back Tarik Luckett and Butler Community College linebacker Chavez Brown.

The Mean Green have also lost a few recruits who backed out to go to other schools. Angelo State offensive lineman Jake Long flipped to Duke after previously being committed to UNT.