Former Ole Miss athlete prepares to compete on ‘Survivor’

Former Ole Miss hybrid athlete Quintavius “Q” Burdette is scheduled to premiere on the 46th season of “Survivor” on Feb. 28. in the Mamanuca Islands of Fiji.

Burdette, who grew up in a family with 16 siblings, was a star football player in high school, where was ranked as the No. 90 overall running back in the country in the class of 2012. In the first two years of high school he played defensive back, but his junior year he made the switch to the running back position.

While playing for Senatobia High School, he ran for 2,146 yards and averaged eight yards per carry. He played quarterback in the Mississippi All-Star Game his senior year.

In his first two seasons at Ole Miss, Burdette played cornerback and in his last two seasons he played wide receiver for the Rebels. In two years at Ole Miss playing cornerback he racked in 18 tackles, and in his two years playing wide receiver he amassed eight receptions.

Burdette was also a dual sport athlete at Ole Miss. He ran in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 4×100-meter relay and competed in the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship.

The former Rebel is also a first-generation college graduate. In a “Survivor” pre-season interview, Burdette said being the first in his family to graduate from college is his biggest accomplishment.

Since retiring from athletics, Burdette has worked as a real estate agent. He achieved his master’s degree in accounting from the university and described his pivot to real estate as a big risk in his life.

“I started taking risks early in life,” Burdette said in the pre-season interview. “Being 1 of 17 kids, you have to take risks. The biggest risk that changed my life for the better would have to be quitting my job to start my career in real estate.”

Burdette’s athletic prowess coupled with his smarts could carry him very far on “Survivor,” a hard game that rewards both physical strength and intelligence.

Rebel fans are excited for this “Survivor.”

“I have been watching ‘Survivor’ since season 10, and I have loved it,” sophomore accounting major David Gildart said. “It makes me even more excited that an Ole Miss Rebel is going to be a contestant.”

Burdette’s inclusion has even drawn in some new viewership for the show.

“I have never really watched ‘Survivor,’ but I will be tuned in and hoping Burdette wins,” sophomore art major Luke Terranova said.