#52

Aiden Burgess

DL · Kent State · R-Jr. · #52

Returning to Kent State for 2026
R-Jr. · Hanover, Md. → Rock Creek Christian HS
via kentstatesports.com ↗
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Aiden Burgess

DL · Kent State · Fr · #52

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#2317 national
CFB
College
Kent State
2024–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

Coaching Lineage · 2024–2025

2 coaches
2024
Kenni Burns
Kent State
2025
Mark Carney
Kent State
era →

Coaching transition mid-career: Kenni Burns → Mark Carney. Worth noting in scheme + development context.

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2024Kent State0-12HC: Kenni Burns · Run-leaning, slow tempo
2025Kent State5-7HC: Mark Carney · Run-leaning, slow tempo

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Kent State1020.00.0------
2024Kent State1--0.00.0------
Career1120.00.0------

How he plays

Play style

Controls the point of attack and doesn't move.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Kent State

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Defensive line · Kent State

Returning around him

  • 11% of 2024 offensive production back (Heavy turnover)
  • Transfer portal: -4 net (11 in / 15 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Kent State · Last season: 5-7 · Talent rank #128 · 2026 recruiting class #120

DNA match

Player DNA

Nose Anchor

The heaviest frame on the interior. Sack production is intentionally not the point of this profile.

IDL

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Quavion Bird’s 2025 season.

Quavion Bird

86%match

Central Michigan · 2025

#2

Alexander Skelton

Oregon State · 2021

85%
#3

Eliyt Nairne

Tulane · 2025

83%
#4

Marcus Moore Jr.

Akron · 2024

81%
#5

Sonny Hazard

Louisiana · 2023

80%

Matches Quavion on

Class year
Hurry rate
Sack rate

Differs from Quavion on

Height (lower)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Caleb Irving's sophomore season at Charlotte (2025).

Caleb Irving

82%match

Charlotte · 2025

#2

Evan Bennett

Fresno State · 2021

77%
#3

Leroy Jackson

North Carolina · 2025

76%
#4

Eamon Smalls

UAB · 2024

76%
#5

Marcus Moore Jr.

Akron · 2024

76%

Matches Caleb on

Class year
Hurry rate
Sack rate

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #14453

Final rank
#14453
Avg #14705.0
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #14453 this season.

Background

2025 (R-Freshman) Played in 10 games for Kent State in 2025 Recorded 10 total tackles (2 unassisted, 8 assisted) Had a career-high 3 tackles at Toledo Also posted 2 tackles at Florida State and Texas Tech 2024 (Freshman) Appeared in 4 games for the Golden Flashes 1 tackle on the season against Akron

via kentstatesports.com ↗