The 2024 NFL Draft class at wide receiver is one of the deepest in recent memory with potentially six receivers expected to be selected in the first round. Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jermaine Burton also helps give this class excellent depth, but he reportedly comes with off-field concerns.
Burton, 6-foot, was rated as a four-star recruit and the 58th-best player in the 2020 class by 247 Sports. He began his collegiate career with the Georgia Bulldogs, combining for 901 receiving yards and 8 touchdowns in his first two seasons.
- Jermaine Burton stats 2023 (ESPN): 39 receptions, 798 receiving yards, 8 touchdowns
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After winning a national championship in 2021 with the Bulldogs, Burton transferred to the University of Alabama. The Crimson Tide offered him a fresh start and a bigger role in their offense, which is exactly what he got. Burton hauled in 79 receptions for 1,475 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns in the next two years before entering the 2024 NFL Draft.
The pre-draft process was always going to be a critical part of the evaluation process for Burton. He delivered on his athletic potential, recording a 9.09 Relative Athletic Score thanks in part to a good 40 time (4.45 seconds) and excellent broad jump (11’01’). However, Burton faced even bigger questions about his maturity and whether or not he could work well with an NFL coaching staff.
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In a recent episode of “The Athletic Football Show“, NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler explained why despite Burton’s talent there are some legitimate concerns around the league about his maturity and coachability.
“The talent’s there. It’s a matter of consistency on and off the field. He’s been to 6 schools in 8 years. As one NFL scout put it, he was on the s— list of the coaches of both Georgia and Alabama”
dane Brugler on Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jermaine Burton
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- Jermaine Burton college stats: 132 receptions, 2,376 receiving yards, 23 touchdowns in 50 games
While Burton only played at two schools in college – Alabama and Georgia – he also moved around in high school. In 2019, he announced he was transferring from Calabasas High School (California) to IMG Academy (Florida). Just weeks later, he reversed his transfer.
Prior to that, he played for Happeville Charter in Georgia, s there is a long history of Burton bouncing around different schools from 2017-’21, with stops with at least five teams. It’s also why. the feedback NFL coaches and general managers receive from the coaching staff at Georgia and Alabama will play a massive role in where Burton is chosen in the 2024 NFL Draft.
