Missouri receiver Luther Burden III will forgo his senior season and declare for the NFL Draft. As a result, he will not play in the Tigers’ upcoming bowl game.
Burden, 20, is ranked No. 21 on Yahoo Sports’ 2025 NFL Draft big board and is rated as the second-best receiver by Nate Tice.
“An explosive slot wide receiver who can create first downs and touchdowns out of thin air. Burden has a good frame and is a weapon on manufactured and underlying touches. He can also win deep because of his very good speed and hand-eye coordination.”
Before the 2024 season, Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz compared the 6-foot-4 Burden to San Francisco 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel.
“The closest comparable for me is probably Deebo Samuel, and I know those are high expectations,” Drinkwitz said on ESPN’s “College GameDay” podcast. “But just the ability of him with the ball in his hand, you know.
When we played Deebo in ’17, he returned the opening kickoff, I was at NC State, returned the opening kickoff against us and then had two more touchdowns in that game, basically beating us single-handedly. You can see the 49ers and Kyle Shanahan using Deebo Samuel as a big slot receiver and using him in the backfield. I think Luther has some of those same tendencies.”
In three seasons at Missouri, Burden collected 192 receptions for 2,263 yards and 21 touchdowns in 38 games. He also had four rushing TDs and one on special teams. Last year he had 86 catches for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns. That yardage total was the third most for a single season in Missouri history.
Burden’s production suffered this season due to illness and injuries to his shoulder and arm. He collected 61 catches for 676 yards and six scores this season. The junior indicated this would likely be his last season at Missouri when he walked into the Tigers’ senior day.
“I feel like this is the best time to enter the draft,” Burden told ESPN’s Pete Thamel. “I am confident in myself and what I can do at the next level. I am ready for the next step.”
