BURNSVILLE, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State University senior linebacker Onte Burns has been named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Defensive Player of the Week following his performance in SMSU’s 27-20 overtime home victory over Minot State University on Saturday night.

Burns, a 6-foot, 206-pound native of Plymouth, Minn., recorded a game-high 11 tackles, with four solo, along with two sacks and a pass break-up in the win. Both of Burns’ sacks came during Minot State’s overtime drive to help seal the SMSU victory.

It’s the first time Burns has earned the award in his career. He is also the first Mustang to receive the NSIC weekly defensive award since the 2017 season.

Burns, a two-time first team All-NSIC South honoree, also reached a milestone during the victory as he became just the seventh SMSU player in team history to reach 300 career tackles. He currently ranks fifth in team history with 308 tackles and is second all-time in solo tackles with 179. Nate Rudolph (1996-99) holds the school record with 199 solo stops.

Burns, a three-time SMSU team captain, has led the NSIC in tackles the past two seasons. He currently leads the league with 46 tackles and ranks sixth in Division II.

Burns is a 2018 graduate of Robbinsdale Cooper High School in New Hope.

Southwest Minnesota State, 3-1 overall and off to its best start since the 2016 season, will host Upper Iowa University on Saturday for homecoming starting at 5 p.m.