Receiver Luther Burden III of Missouri is excited to get started with quarterback Brady Cook.
Receiver Luther Burden III of Missouri is excited to get started with quarterback Brady Cook. Jacob Peeler, the receiving coach for the Missouri Tigers, wants everyone to remember that star freshman receiver Luther Burden is still a freshman.
“I know this is coach speak, but I think (it’s important) not putting too many expectations on the kid,” said Peeler. “He just finished his high school senior year not long ago, just a few months back.”
Still, these hopes are very high for the talented route runner from St. Louis, Missouri. Burden was one of the best receivers in the country for the class of 2022. He signed with Mizzou in early January to start getting ready for this fall.
Current season and more
He is already expected to be the Tigers’ best wide receiver, and he could be the most dynamic player on this offense. But, now that the Tigers’ starting quarterback is a sophomore named Brady Cook, what might this season look like for Burden?
The Cook Burden Link
Cook, who was also born in St. Louis, was the quarterback with whom Burden got along best during spring practices and preseason camp. This connection probably played a role in Cook being chosen as the starting quarterback, and head coach Eli Drinkwitz will try to strengthen it as the season goes on. Cook and Burden are both new to coaching, but Missouri’s first few games are good for the young pair.
Only one of the first four teams Missouri plays, Auburn, finished in the top 75 against the pass in 2021. (Team Pass Defense Efficiency). Kansas State (ranked 83rd), Louisiana Tech (ranked 107th), and FCS Abilene Christian will play in the other three games. This schedule of games should give Burden and Cook a lot of time to get used to the speed of a game.
The game story
Drinkwitz knows that this group of receivers, especially Burden, will be the strength of Missouri’s offense. He says he’ll open things up for them, but don’t expect the Tigers to go on an all-out air raid. Cook is a good passer and knows coverage as well as anyone, but he doesn’t have a rocket arm and can’t throw the ball far down the field. And he won’t have to be now that Burden is outside.
Burden is full of energy when he has the ball. As a receiver and returner in high school, he had a natural ability to get into open space and run past defenses. Even though he is only a freshman, he is 5’11” tall and weighs 215 pounds. This gives him the strength to run past smaller defenders after catching the ball.
Tigers’ aim and approach
All the Tigers have to do is get the ball to Cook, who is great at putting the rock where it needs to be. His number of snaps is low, but he’s 52 for 65 in his career and has never thrown an interception. In the Armed Forces Bowl Game against Army, he lit up the Knights with a series of quick passes to Tiger receivers who did most of the work after the catch. When those quick hitters were thrown to Burden, a 5-yard slant could easily turn into a 70-yard home run.
This season, Missouri will still rely a lot on their running game to set up their passing game. They’ll have to keep defenses honest to give their sophomore huddle caller time to pass and keep him off the ground.
Burden will be most dangerous when teams pack the box to stop runs and are compelled to quit corners on an island with him, giving him a chance to take advantage of the mismatch. As the season continues, Burden will probably be asked to do more and more, but he’s probably looking forward to the added responsibility.