Although getting struck by lightning is extremely uncommon, hundreds of people have died.
At some point is his life, Luther Burden III was struck by lightning. Instead of killing him, it made him into an unstoppable football force who spent years flat-out embarrassing anyone who dared to challenge his excellence.
**Get to know: Luther Burden III**
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**Hometown:** East St. Louis, Illinois
**Position:** Wide receiver
**Height and Weight:** 6-foot-0, 206 lbs
**Accolades:** _2x First Team All-SEC, 2023 AP Second Team All-American, 2023 Biletnikoff Award semifinalist_
### **The Highlights**
Living up to five-star expectations is difficult, let alone surpassing them. Burden was the program’s great hope entering his time in Columbia, and fans believed he could lead the Tigers to a return to relevance. Facing impossibly high expectations, Burden somehow met or even exceeded them in his three years at Mizzou.
He established the nickname ‘Touchdown Luther’ his freshman year, finding the end zone eight times and recording 45 receptions for 375 yards. Dominic Lovett’s departure allowed Burden to have a breakout season in the slot in 2023, recording 1,212 yards on 86 receptions with nine touchdowns on his way to All-American honors and top-10 draft buzz.
Like many players on Mizzou’s offense in 2024, Burden had a down year compared to expectations. His stats took a downturn with 61 receptions, 676 yards and eight total touchdowns. But Burden’s talent was still on display to anyone watching, and he continued to wow Tigers fan each week with his highlight-reel plays and ability to make defenders look absolutely ridiculous (as highlighted in Josh Matejka’s disrespectful play index).
Burden’s legacy is secure. He will go down as one of the greatest players to ever grace Faurot Field and one day earn a spot on its brick sideline walls along with other Tigers legends. And years from now Burden will be remembered as possibly the key player in Missouri football’s revitalization.
**Clutch moments**
* 2023 vs. Florida, Gators leading 33-31, 4th-and-17 on the MU 29-yard line with 38 seconds left. If Mizzou doesn’t convert, the Tigers don’t go to a New Year’s Six Bowl. Brady Cook hits Burden for a 27-yard gain. Mizzou goes on to win 34-33.
* 2023 vs. Ohio State, Tigers leading 7-3, 2nd-and-goal on the OSU 10-yard line with 5:12 left in regulation. A touchdown likely seals a victory. Cook connects with Burden on a dart over the middle for a touchdown.
* 2024 vs. Vanderbilt, Commodores leading 27-20 in double-overtime, 1st-and-10 on the VU 25-yard line. Cook hits Burden for a touchdown.
* 2024 vs. Auburn, southern Tigers leading 17-14, 4th-and-5 on the Auburn 41-yard line with 1:34 left in regulation. If Mizzou doesn’t convert, MU likely picks up its second loss, its College Football Playoff hopes likely perish, and Homecoming turns rotten. Cook hits Burden on an out route for 16 yards, and MU goes on to win 21-17.
* 2024 vs. Oklahoma, Sooners lead 23-16, 3rd-and-16 at the OU 43-yard line with 1:24 left in regulation. If Mizzou doesn’t convert, MU likely picks up its third loss, and its College Football Playoff hopes officially die. Drew Pyne uncorks a rainbow that’s caught by Burden for a 33-yard gain. Mizzou goes on to win 30-23.
* 2024 at South Carolina, Gamecocks leading 30-27, 4th-and-5 at the SC 37-yard line with 1:37 left in regulation. If Mizzou doesn’t convert, MU likely picks up its third loss, and its College Football Playoff hopes officially die. Burden makes a contested, one-handed, over-the-shoulder catch, jukes a defender and scores the go-ahead touchdown...
* 2024 vs. Arkansas, game tied at 21, 3rd-and-9 at the MU 26-yard line with 3:30 left in regulation. If the Tigers don’t convert, they likely punt it back to the Razorbacks
**The Scout**
* Elite after the catch, can move in all directions
* Able to go from 0 to 60 and 60 to zero so quickly
* Stupendous vision, feel for where defenders are
* Can make high-level contested catches
* Hand-catcher (good)
* Surprisingly strong from his frame
* Lined up everywhere
Burden’s calling card is his explosiveness and elusiveness, making him a yards after the catch (YAC) nightmare for defenses. Get the ball in his hands and he can make something special happen. Burden also calmed any fears about his straight-line speed at the combine with a 4.41 40-yard dash and a 1.54 10-yard split, earning a place on the NFL’s All-Combine Team.
He has a solid frame and knows how to make the most of his strength despite slightly smaller size for an NFL receiver; Mizzou fans will strongly remember highlights of Burden steamrolling or stiff arming defensive backs. But Burden isn’t a one trick pony, either - he’s shown a knack for coming down with contested catches and has a solid pair of hands which make him a reliable option on offense.
It’s clear Burden is one of the draft’s most talented receivers - so why has his stock been dropping? A few things may be at play here.
Burden has experience in several different roles but is primarily a slot receiver - a role where NFL teams need only one starter as opposed to boundary receivers. This limits the number of teams which make sense for him and, as a result, harms his draft value. His stats also took a downturn along with much of the Mizzou offense last season, meaning that he was not as much of a national name as the year prior.
But Burden has always stood out on the tape, and many scouts have recognized that some limitations in Brady Cook’s play last year affected Burden’s productivity. I wouldn’t be shocked to see his draft stock begin to rise again as some of the hype surrounding other receivers calms down.
### **The Fit**
Burden is like a Maserati or Lamborghini: a luxury machine that’s an absolute masterpiece with the right driver, but one that won’t reach its full potential if used in the wrong way or has the wrong person at the wheel. He’s an elite slot receiver that can be the centerpiece of an offense if they scheme to get him open in space and allow him to use his strengths.
Fortunately for Burden, a number of teams in the mid-to-late first round could someone like him - including some of the NFL’s best offensive minds. The departures of players like Deebo Samuel (possibly Brandon Aiyuk, too) and Cooper Kupp have left the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams in need of another top-notch receiver, and Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay would have an absolute field day scheming for Burden. Likewise, the Buffalo Bills could use another talented, young receiver to pair with MVP Josh Allen.
The Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers also need to add to their respective receiver rooms and have been consistently linked to Burden. The bottom line is that he’ll have plenty of suitors; which one he ends up with will be key to his success on Sundays.
### **Prediction**
Many post-combine mock drafts have Burden falling to the second round, being passed up by receivers like Matthew Golden and Emeka Egbuka. I think these mock drafts will look a bit foolish by the time we reach the real thing. Draft season has many ups and downs for prospects, and I expect Burden’s stock to rise back up before the Titans (for now) are on the clock April 24. I’ve got Burden going in the mid-to-late first round.