Former Lowndes and University of Kentucky football star Vincent “Sweet Pea” Burns has died.

Kentucky Football announced Burns’ death on social media July 17.

An Associated Press and Atlanta Journal-Constitution All-State performer on Lowndes’ 1999 state championship team, Burns blocked a punt and caught a touchdown pass from Barrett Wilkes in the 17-0 win over Brunswick in the finals. Burns initially played at Northern Arizona, then transferred to Kentucky, where he was a team captain for two years. Wildcats stats show he totaled 168 tackles, 37 for losses. He was named All-SEC twice.

“[H]e was beloved by his teammates and known for his upbeat personality,” Kentucky Football’s official account said in an X (formerly Twitter) post.

Burns was a third round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in 2005. Injuries prevented him from playing that fall. Burns was assigned to the Colts’ practice squad in 2006, but ultimately never played in a regular season game for Indianapolis.

In recent years, Burns was involved with Sweet Pea’s Soul Food in Lexington, Kentucky.