Luther Burden III Is Logical 2024 Heisman Sleeper

While quarterbacks have dominated the Heisman Trophy Award over the years, former Alabama star DeVonta Smith proved that a wide receiver can win the highest individual honor back in 2020 when he caught 117 passes for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns.

Heading into the new campaign, Missouri’s Luther Burden III is poised for a breakout after hauling in 86 passes for 1,212 yards with nine scores as a sophomore in 2023.

While he struggled against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl (three catches, 15 yards, TD), Burden started off the year posting 96, 117, 114, 177, 140 and 149 yards with seven, eight, seven, 10, 11 and 11 receptions. 

As a guy with 4.4 speed and only four drops on his 94 catchable targets last season, Burden is a complete receiver with elite route running skills. He also finished in the top five in the FBS in YAC and can line up anywhere in any formation, including out of the slot. 

Looking across the college football landscape, it’s clear to me that Burden projects to be the best pass-catcher with explosiveness and the ability to get the separation required to post huge individual numbers in the SEC.

Burden and the Tigers will face Murray State, Buffalo, Boston College and Vanderbilt at home before traveling to Texas A&M and UMass to start the year. Then will come matchups vs. Auburn, at Alabama, vs. Oklahoma, at South Carolina, at Mississippi State and vs. Arkansas.

He should be able to put up huge individual numbers against both in and out of conference opponents with his biggest test coming at Alabama. 

The Mizzou WR is listed at +7000 at BetRivers and +7500 at Caesars, so there’s a ton of upside at both books.

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