We are a little over a month away from the college football season starting and what better way than to evaluate athletes who are on the rise. This segment will feature Missouri’s explosive wideout Luther Burden III, who has drawn comparisons to NFL receiver Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers.

Burden III is coming off an impressive 2023 campaign in which he caught 86 receptions for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns. He led all Power-Five wide receivers in the following categories:

• Yards per route run (5.27)
• Missed tackles forced (14)
• Yards after the catch (340)
• Receiving yards after contact (146)

Due to his abilities as a very strong route runner who makes many defenders miss tackles, he is being compared to Samuel of the 49ers. The comparison is very warranted as both do have very similar playing styles. Burden III will look to improve upon last year’s statistics. He made First-team All-SEC in 2023 and will try to secure this accomplishment once again in 2024.

Pro Football Focus wrote an article titled: ‘College Football: The top-10 returning wide receivers for the 2024 season’ in which author Max Chadwick discussed Burden III and listed him as the number one returning receiver entering this season.

If you’re looking for the next Deebo Samuel, look no further. Burden has similar size to the San Francisco 49ers’ star receiver (5-foot-11, 208 pounds compared to Samuel’s 6-foot, 215-pound frame) and the two are at their best with the ball in their hands. The sophomore’s 725 yards after the catch were third among all FBS receivers this past season while his 314 receiving yards after contact were the fourth-most. 

Burden also displayed impressive hands and body control this past season, dropping just four of his 94 catchable targets while coming down with 56.5% of his contested targets. The former five-star recruit was targeted on 32.7% of his receiving snaps this past season, the highest rate among Power Five receivers. 

Chadwick highlighted Burden III’s yards after the catch and how explosive he really is. Not only that, having good body control and solid hands really helps make an athlete as they progress towards their NFL goals and aspirations.

Burden III Collegiate Statistics: 

2022: 45 Receptions for 375 Yards, 6 TDs | 18 Carries for 88 Yards and 2 TDs

2023: 86 Receptions for 1,212 Yards, 9 TDs | 7 Carries for 31 Yards and 0 TDs

Last season, the 20-year-old receiver carried the football only seven times for 31 rushing yards. The comparison to Deebo Samuel would mean that Burden III is also being utilized in the backfield and in motion on wide receiver “Jet” plays. While this is not the case, his big frame and similar size is the biggest reason Chadwick compared him to Samuel.

Either way, Burden III will aim to improve upon his 2023 statistical campaign and register a second First-team All-SEC nod. If all goes right and he stays healthy, he is one college football player to certainly watch this upcoming season.