NFL Draft Profile: Treylon Burks, Wide Receiver, Arkansas Razorbacks
#16
Pos: WR
Ht: 6020
Wt: 225
Hand: 0978
Arm: 3348
Wing: 7918
40: 4.55
Bench: N/A
3-Cone: 7.28
Shuttle: N/A
Vert: 33"
Broad: 10'02"
DOB: 3/23/00
Eligible: 2022
Warren, AR
Warren
Treylon Burks
Arkansas Razorbacks
One-Liners
A physical presence seldom seen at the position, Burks is a versatile chess piece in any offense due to his stature and athleticism that he will use to parlay a potential top 50 pick come April’s NFL Draft.
Pros
A stout frame that embodies much of what you look for in a running back much less a receiver. Outstanding after the catch where he uses strength and quickness to gain extra yards. Catches the ball naturally as evident by his use in screens and routes over the middle of the field. Never see him dance around and gets north quickly with a solid burst. Was used primarily as an F receiver in the slot but can work around the offense. Once he sees green grass, he possesses a second gear and is seldom caught from behind. A durable commodity, Burks is reliable in his availability and as a security blanket for his quarterback.
Cons
Not the fastest in terms of vertical route separation. A freaky athlete but not the most technical. Most plays are highlights after the catch rather than separation at the top of his routes. Could use more nuance in his route running. Works the middle of the field almost exclusively at times and not as prominent outside the numbers. May struggle against NFL corners that can match his physicality. Would like to see him tie his feet to his hands more often in his releases.
Summary
When building an offense in today’s NFL, “position-less” players have become a trend in many schemes. Between his build and playmaking ability, Burks fits this mold very well and has drawn comparisons to the 49er’s Deebo Samuel. Burks will be highly coveted and used in a plethora of positions on offense and as a returner on special teams. To become truly complete, time in a veteran wide receiver room will do him justice as he adds to the nuance of his game. Should Burks become more sound In his route running, his ceiling is immense. Anyone that can garner the big plays he did in a run heavy scheme against the best defenses in the country is worthy of the notoriety Burks has gained. Look to hear his name called early and often when he arrives on Sundays.
Background:
Treylon Burks attended Warren High School in Arkansas where he finished his career with 151 receptions for 3,403 yards and 43 touchdowns. In addition to being a four-year varsity letter winner in football, Burks also lettered in basketball and baseball. After high school, 247Sports ranked him as a 4-Star recruit, the 103rd-best recruit nationally, the 16th-ranked wide receiver recruit in the country and the 1st recruit in the state of Arkansas.
Burks committed to Arkansas over Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Florida State, Michigan and other schools. In 2019, he started 11 games as a freshman and finished with 29 catches for 475 yards, leading the team in receiving yards and being named to the SEC All-Freshman team. In 2020, Burks started nine games and finished with 51 catches for 820 yards and seven touchdowns. In both 2019 and 2020, Burks was named to the SEC Academic Honor Roll. 2021 was Burks' best year yet, starting 12 games and finishing with 67 catches for 1,123 yards and 11 touchdowns plus 14 carries for 112 yards and another touchdown on the ground.
Burks is extremely well respected in the Arkansas program and after he declared for the NFL Draft and plans to skip the Outback Bowl, head coach Sam Pittman was quite vocal about Burks’ importance to the team, “Losing him, we lost a lot of offense. We also lost a very good leader. It’s going to take a lot of people to replace Burks. He was our go-to guy. He was our big-play guy. Any time we got zero coverage, man coverage, everybody in the place knew he was going to get the ball.”
It’s paramount to note Burks’ injury history, suffering a “potentially catastrophic” knee injury in high school that “almost cost him his football career”. Burks missed one game in 2020 due to an undisclosed knee injury and it is unclear if he re-injured the same knee. Additionally, Burks has battled through an undisclosed foot injury which he suffered in fall camp of 2021.
Grades
2nd Round
Quotable
"Using a gun takes the fun out of it. Having a knife, it's more of a thrill that you're getting up on a wild boar that could kill you. Honestly it's just a thrill being out there with your friends and family and having a good time. I would say I'm not scared of wild game like some people are. Like bears, I'm not scared of them. I have respect for them. Going out there, I'm in their habitat." -- Treylon Burks on his hunting hobby
2022 Treylon Burks Fantasy Football Overview:
The 2022 NFL Draft will be another deep one at wide receiver, with as many as five players expected to go in the first round. Arkansas standout Treylon Burks will be one of those picks and could be the first receiver selected. At six-foot-three 225-pounds, Burks is drawing comparisons to Seattle stud D.K. Metcalf, but they are only similar in size and athleticism. The 21-year old prospect is more dynamic after the catch and is frequently used on runs and screens. He has the speed to get past defenders on longer routes and has excellent hands.
The former Razorback has improved in all three seasons at Arkansas, finishing with 147 receptions, 2,418 yards, 18 touchdowns, and averaged over 16 yards per catch each season. He also ran the ball 38 times for 222 yards and a score, displaying impressive agility, speed, and quickness for a player his size. One aspect of Burks’ game that can improve is cleaning up his route-running to create more separation. But he makes up for that by consistently winning contested throws and making spectacular catches.
2022 Treylon Burks Draft Strategy:
The wide receivers are deep, but Burks is tier one and should go in the top half of rookie drafts. Burks’ size, hands, and athleticism will quickly earn quarterbacks’ trust in the NFL. If he lands with a good NFL quarterback, not only will he be the first wide receiver taken, he could be the first overall pick.
Best Case Scenario:
Besides first-round draft capital, Burks’ landing spot will be the most significant factor for immediate success. Teams with good quarterbacks or those who lack a top wide receiver are ideal. The Giants, Falcons, Browns, and Saints need a top pass-catcher but lack stability at quarterback. The dream scenario would be the Chargers, Cardinals, or Bills. All have excellent young quarterbacks who can support multiple fantasy receivers. The current alpha options for those teams, Keenan Allen (29), DeAndre Hopkins (29), and Stefon Diggs (28), are all approaching 30 years old.
Worst Case Scenario:
Nothing kills a receiver’s value like a lousy quarterback. In addition to the teams listed above, the Panthers, Washington, and Eagles would hurt Burk’s value, at least in the short term. Should one of those teams draft Burks, he could fall behind a couple of the other tier one receivers, but he should not be faded entirely. Situations change rapidly, and talent often overcomes obstacles. A.J. Brown is a perfect example of a recent receiver who fell in rookie drafts due to landing spot, and dynasty managers must learn from previous mistakes.
Latest News
Speaking at SEC Media Day, Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman divulged on inner conversations he had with wide-out Treylon Burks during the offseason. “What he needed to do to become a standout, an unbelievable player, is get in better shape and we talked to him about that,” Pittman stated. “Just going out there and hunting them Hogs wasn't really getting him in the greatest shape in the world, so he had to do more than just that. He has done that. He's lost some weight. He looks good. He's more confident, things of that nature. He's got 5XL hands. He's just a tremendous person, a south Arkansas, Warren, Arkansas kid.” This will resonate well with scouts, as Burks was already considered to be a potential first-round pick in the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft. The long, athletic playmaker is one to watch as we approach the college football season, his stock is on the ascension. - (07/26/21)
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