PLAYER (PROSPECT) PROFILE
Treylon Burks is the Arkansas Razorbacks’ standout wide receiver and one of the top prospects in the 2022 class. He accumulated over 2,300 receiving yards on 146 career receptions at Arkansas and finished his final year with 66 receptions for 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns as a Junior during the 2021 season.
Below is a quick breakdown of the most notable metrics and Burks easily meets the thresholds to be considered elite in each of the metrics listed.
- Breakout Age: 20
- DOM Rating: 45.2%
- Best Season Market Share: 40.4%
- Best Season TD Share: 50%
- Best Season Y/TPA: 3.9
SCHEMATIC BREAKDOWN
Fortunately for Treylon Burks, he was utilized all over the field during his time with the Razorbacks. He played out wide, in the slot, and even the backfield at times proving his versatility regardless of his 6’3” 225 lbs. frame. Head Coach Sam Pittman found any way he could to get his dynamic playmaker the ball. Creative NFL coaches will certainly view Burks as a player they can bring in and make an immediate impact by using his skillset in different formations and packages.
While this is all good news some of his weaknesses may limit his usage as a true X wide receiver in the NFL unless can improve and adapt. Let’s dive into some of the strengths and weaknesses we see with Burks on tape.
ATTRIBUTES – STRENGTHS
It’s quite difficult to watch Treylon Burks’ film and not instantly notice the overwhelming athleticism he exhibits. He shows impressive separation at the point of attack but it’s much less about the route running as much as it is about his raw size and strength. Similarly, he’s able to beat press coverage but again, he does this less with technique and more by force.
Burks also displays great ball skills. When he gets open, and that’s fairly often, he catches the ball. You don’t see many concentration drops on film or anything concerning in that regard. But, his most captivating quality is his ability to create yards after the catch. There likely isn’t another wide receiver in this class with the same combination of size and elusiveness we see in Treylon Burks’ game.
The below cut-up shows off some of Burks YAC ability in short areas.
I like the next clip as it’s a perfect lead-in to the weakness section. You can see he struggles with release and route running here but still wins due to his elite physicality and ability to separate. Then he shows you what he can do after the catch. Impressive.
ATTRIBUTES – WEAKNESSES
Again, it’s difficult to watch Burks’ film and detect weaknesses in his game but we aren’t cheerleaders for these prospects and try to be as objective as possible.
Even though he’s admittedly one of the top prospects in this class Burks still lacks a refined route tree, which may not be noticeable in the NCAA but may very well hinder him at the NFL level. I find he’s a bit slow off the ball at times (release) and demonstrates a deficiency in understanding of strategic/deceptive concepts in regards to footwork and route technique. The absence of a more refined skill set in terms of release and technique could lead to predictability in his attack at the next level.
The below cut-up illustrates the sluggish release I described along with sloppy route running (see how he bends the route instead of making it a sharp cut on the in-route) – note he still wins off athleticism and strength in traffic.
You can also see here how he’s a bit awkward and slow off the line and out of his break.
The criticisms of Treylon Burks are subtle and not meant to be overly negative but these kinds of assessments are necessary when honestly evaluating any player.
FILM STUDY ANALYSIS
| SCORE | GRADE |
| 56/70 | Above Average |
Treylon Burks finished with one of the highest film scores in this class, tied with just one other wide receiver (stay tuned). He’s an above-average prospect who I’m pretty excited about but still leaves room for healthy skepticism. I don’t think Burks matches up to the top tier/elite prospects we’ve seen in recent years such as Ja’Maar Chase, Justin Jefferson, or even A.J. Brown, however, if I had to compare him, I’d label him A.J. Brown-Lite.
Burks’ greatest strength is his athleticism, which in the end may outweigh his shortcomings in regard to route running. Truthfully route technique and the finer points of playing wide receiver in the NFL are much easier to coach up than physicality or athleticism which comes naturally.
He’d be welcome in just about any organization and considering his versatility he has the potential to be successful in almost any landing spot. Lord help Dynasty Twitter if he lands with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Wheels up as they say!
Thank you for reading. If you have any thoughts or questions and would like to discuss them, you can reach out to me on Twitter @WillieBeamanDFF.
