LEXINGTON, Ky. - Kentucky wide receiver Keenan Burton said Friday he will return to the Wildcats for his senior season.<br>
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``I think it would be in my best interest to return to Kentucky next season,'' Burton said at a news conference.<br>
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His father, Ed Burton, said before the press conference that he didn't know what his son planned to do.<br>
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The elder Burton said he won't pressure his son either way.<br>
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``I believe with my influence I could probably influence my son to come back to University of Kentucky football,'' Burton said. ``But if I influence him to come back and he comes back and gets hurt, he'll point the finger at me. I want him to do what's best for him. He's the one who has to live with it.''<br>
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With the 6-foot-2, 195-pound receiver's return, Kentucky has back all of the key offensive playmakers on the team that beat Clemson last month in the Music City Bowl the Wildcats' first bowl victory since 1984.<br>
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Earlier this week, junior running back Rafael Little the team's top rusher the last two seasons announced he would return.<br>
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Burton led the Wildcats in touchdowns (13), receptions (77), receiving yards (1,036) and all-purpose yards (1,845).<br>
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Going into the season, he appeared to be the only reliable target for quarterback Andre Woodson, whose 31 touchdown passes ranked third on Kentucky's all-time list. But receiver Dicky Lyons quickly established himself by catching multiple touchdown passes in three straight games.<br>
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With Lyons taking off some of the double-team pressure, Burton was able to match Lyons' feat later in the year and finish with a flourish.<br>
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Going pro was tempting, in large part because of his injury history. Although he never missed a football game while playing for Louisville Manual High School, injuries plagued Burton throughout his Kentucky career until this season.<br>
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After a promising freshman season in 2003, Burton suffered a hairline fracture in his wrist during practice prior to his sophomore year. After two games, he decided to take a medical redshirt.<br>
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Then, during his second attempt at playing as a sophomore last year, he broke his foot during the Wildcats' second game and was sidelined for four more.<br>
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He is good friends with Louisville running back Michael Bush, who broke his right leg in the season opener this year against Kentucky. Bush said earlier this week that he would leave school early to enter the draft.
