COCONUT CREEK — After sophomore linebacker Kirby Burns came to North Broward Prep as a freshman last season, he was joined this year by junior Kallen Jennings, developing what has been a dominant duo in the middle of the North Broward defense.
Burns, a middle linebacker, and Jennings, an outside linebacker, have helped anchor a much improved North Broward Prep defense this season. Burns has racked up 25 solo tackles this season, eleven assisted, totaling to 36 tackles on the season, which is second on the Eagles only to Jennings. Jennings has a whopping 32 solo tackles on the year, 19 assisting, giving him 51 tackles on the year so far. Jennings is averaging 7.3 tackles per game, while Burns averaging 5.1. Together, they have been a force.
“I work hard year round to be a starter on both sides of the ball,” Kirby Burns said, “once I’m out there, my heart gets pumping and I want to hit somebody every play.”
While Jennings has the upper hand in tackles over his buddy Burns, it’s Burns who has brought down the quarterback more. Burns is second on the team with three tackles this season, while Jennings has one sack this year. The two have aided the Eagles to a 3-0 road record this season, something that has been highly thanks to outstanding defensive play. Last year, North Broward went 1-4 away from home, allowing an average of 42.6 points per game. This season, at 3-0, the Eagles have allowed an average of just 13 points per game as visitors. Obviously, this is a big difference.
“My biggest thrill is coming around the edge, containing the outside and hopefully get the quarterback on defense,” Burns said about his sacks this season.
However, the two linebackers are quite familiar with each other. Not only do they play together for North Broward, but the Burns and Jennings Tandem goes all the way back to peewee football days, when the two linebackers played together for the Coral Springs Chargers. Their success back then was also great, leading to a reuniting in High School, after Jennings spent his freshman and sophomore years attending J.P. Taravella High School.
And if one thinks that Jennings and Burns don’t step up when it matters, they are completely wrong. In the Eagles’ two biggest games this season, against Key West and Archbishop McCarthy, they both played very well. Despite Key West storming a big offensive line and beast running back Mekhi Sargent, Jennings helped slow them down with ten tackles that game, while Burns chipped in for five against the Conchs. Against the Mavericks’ phenomenal running game, Jennings accumulated six tackles, while Burns had two tackles and a sack. Burns and Jennings have certainly anchored an Eagles’ defense that is also banged up, with their defensive lineman Kenny Henningsen, Ted Arthur, and Troy Efird all missing time—making Burns and Jennings’ performance all the more impressive.
“I have been blessed to be surrounded by other athletic, eagle linebackers like Kallen,” Burns said about his fellow linebacker, “I feel like we have learned off of each other’s tenacity.”
As the Eagles head into the Gold Conference playoffs beginning on November sixth, one thing is at least certain. Both Jennings and Burns will be key factors for North Broward down the stretch, with North Broward trying to avenge last year’s first round loss to Oxbridge Academy in the first round. The middle of the Eagles’ defense will be prepped. Kallen Jennings and Kirby Burns are the real deal.
