EXCLUSIVE: Head Coach Eli Drinkwitz Agrees Top SEC Wideout Has ‘Same Tendencies’ As NFL Star

The Missouri Tigers are set to welcome back a wealth of talent for the upcoming 2024 college football season, following a successful season where the program achieved 11 wins for the first time since 2014.

Returning this season for Missouri will be Brady Cook and Luther Burden. Burden had a standout performance in 2023, amassing 1,212 receiving yards and scoring nine touchdowns.

Head coach Eli Drinkwitz is enthusiastic about Burden’s abilities. During a recent appearance on the “College GameDay Podcast,” Drinkwitz drew a striking comparison. He likened Burden to Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers.

According to Drinkwitz, “I think for us, the biggest comparable for me is probably Deebo Samuel, and I know that is a lofty expectation. But just the ability for him with the ball in his hand, you know, when we played Deebo in ’17 he returned the opening kickoff, I was at NC State.

Returned the opening kickoff against us and then had two other touchdowns in that game, basically beat us by himself. You watch the way that the 49ers and Kyle Shanahan use Debo Samuel as a big slot receiver, using him in the backfield. I think Luther has some of those same tendencies.”

Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III sprinted down the field after securing a pass during the Gasparilla Bowl.

Should Burden fulfill that comparison, he is likely to have a promising NFL career ahead of him. Presently, Burden’s primary focus is on contributing to the Tigers’ success.

Missouri is scheduled to kick off their 2024 season against the Murray State Racers on August 31. The matchup will be aired live on SEC Network at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.