MO Rice wide receiver Luther Burden III declares for NFL draft
Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III on Monday announced that he would forgo the next season and enter the NFL draft, where he is expected to be a first-round pick. The decision was widely anticipated after Burden walked with the seniors before their home finale against Arkansas on Saturday. In a statement, Burden said, “It has always been my dream to play in the NFL. I am blessed to have a family and community that have helped support this dream and fuel me to put in the work in pursuit of this goal.”
Despite facing constant double- and triple-team coverage, Burden had 61 catches for 676 yards and six touchdowns this season. He was recruited by top programs but chose to stay close to home at Missouri, where he helped coach Eli Drinkwitz turn around a program that had languished in mediocrity. The Tigers finished 11-2 with a victory in the Cotton Bowl last season, and 9-3 this season.
Burden finished sixth on the school’s career list with 2,263 yards receiving, third-best in a single season with 1,212 last year, and fourth in receptions with 192 and fifth in touchdowns with 21. He also had four touchdowns rushing and one on special teams. Coach Drinkwitz said, “He’s one of the best players if not the best player to ever come to the University of Missouri. For him to make that decision changed the trajectory of my career and our program, and that’s what is going to be remembered.”
