Rex Burkhead Stepped on the Field for Plano in 2005 & Earned His Nickname of "Superman"

This week’s 25th Anniversary Flashback takes us to 2005 when a 5 foot 9 freshman took the field for Plano and immediately morphed into the man of steel. Rex Burkhead was the first freshman in 40 years to get significant playing time for the Wildcats and it didn’t take long for him to show why.

Burkhead started as a running back and played some defense, but was moved to starting quarterback by his sophomore year. He put up solid numbers those first two years, but earned his nickname, “superman”, his junior year when he rushed for almost 18 hundred yards and scored 33 touchdowns for a 13-2 state semifinalist.

Burkhead was as slippery as he was powerful and in the regional final against Skyline he pulled off what many would remember as his signature play...fielding a punt, juking a defender with ease, and electrifying the crowd with this return down the sideline for the game breaking touchdown.

He would finish an amazing career with 6,373 all purpose yards and 80 touchdowns including 35 scores as a senior. Burkhead went on to a great career at Nebraska and a Super Bowl championship with the Patriots, but he’ll always be remembered as “superman” for his dominating play at Plano High.