In the first installment of “Undeclared Gems” I covered another transfer WR in the 2023 class in Jordan Addison. Jermaine Burton is someone I’m more intrigued with as a transfer player, however. The former four-star recruit from Calabasas, CA, possesses good size, listed at 6’0″ even, 200 lbs. He has blazing speed as seen below from his highlights at Georgia.
Burton is an exciting prospect to me particularly because of Alabama’s success last season in bringing Jameson Williams in via the transfer portal. I believe Burton will be asked to do a lot of the same things as Williams and will be able to showcase his abilities with a Heisman trophy-winning QB, Bryce Young. Talk about an upgrade from Stetson Bennett. Despite the lack of usage at Georgia, Burton still put out a great tape and was used creatively in the scheme when given the opportunity to touch the ball.
To me, Burton is being severely undervalued in this class. We saw Jameson Williams come from relative obscurity at Ohio State to become the 12th overall pick in the NFL draft (and could’ve possibly gone higher had he not torn his ACL in the College Football Playoffs). Burton profiles as a more physical WR given his 20lb advantage over Williams. The opportunity that will be afforded to Burton in this offense will have him in the WR3 conversation potentially moving past Addison come this time next year during your rookie drafts.
To me when I watch Burton play, at 6’0″ 200 lbs. and his ability to play behind his pads as well as run by his defender, he quite frankly reminds me of Stefon Diggs. It’s a lofty comparison but Diggs was a fifth-round pick out of Maryland. He didn’t come into the NFL as the crisp route runner he is today.
What I would like to see from Burton this season is expanding on his deep crossers over the middle of the field that he wasn’t asked to do at Georgia. I want to see him run by not just a corner, but beat the safety over the top as well and score on long balls. If Burton can do that, especially against SEC competition we’re talking about a special prospect. He has already showcased his physicality at the position in his willingness to catch bubble screens, carry the ball himself, and block in Georgia’s run-first offense. If he can take the top off the middle of the field as opposed to just being a deep threat outside the numbers, I think at that point we’re talking about a legitimate first-round pick in a loaded 2023 draft class.
I’ve seen him go at the end of the second round, middle of the third round as of late in devy drafts. I think he will outplay that selection once he becomes draft-eligible.
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Check out my other articles in this series: Jordan Addison
