Deion Burks, WR, Oklahoma
Size:
Height: 5’11” | Weight: 185 lbs
Accomplishments:
Three-star recruit
“Deion Burks is an electric playmaker who can win vertical up the field or by taking short passes and converting them to big offensive plays.”
Strengths:
Big-play threat/ playmaking ability
Short-area quickness
Vertical speed
Alignment-versatile
Ball-tracking ability
Concerns:
Frame/overall size
Length/catch radius
Beating press-man coverage
Film Analysis:
Deion Burks transferred from Purdue to Oklahoma after putting together a good year in 2023. Burks shows to be a quick vertical threat that uses his speed to dictate the match-up to defenders. Burks is an alignment-versatile player who has the frame that lends him to being a primary slot player. However, he shows an understanding of how to win on the outside and can consistently play as an outside receiver and win his reps.
Burks showcases different releases depending on alignment and what coverage he is shown by the defense. Against press-man, Burks is best when he uses quickness and speed to win quickly. Burks can dip his shoulder and avoid contact and once even with the defender, he has the acceleration to keep vertical up the field. Against off-coverage, Bruks can tempo his routes and understands how to stem defensive backs to give himself the proper leverage to make a cut and create separation. Burks is a high-IQ player who understands releases and how they convert into route-running. Running routes is where Burks shows his ability to accelerate and decelerate and has proven to be a tough cover for defenders. Burkes can stop immediately and change directions to create separation at the top of the route.
Burks has good hands and appears to be a natural hands-catcher. He can also make difficult catches, showing the ability to adjust to the ball and contour his body. Pushing vertical up the field, Burks understands how to track the ball over his shoulder and can catch the ball without breaking stride. Burks is a skilled receiver who has natural physical tools, but it is also evident that he works on the details of becoming a complete receiver.
Burks' concerns as a player tie into his size. When Burks receives tight man coverage and defensive backs can stay in phase, they can break up passes because of his lack of length and inability to create a wider catch radius to catch the ball away from his frame. The other concern for Burks is while he shows some high-level reps playing the outside receiver position, there are moments when corners when good foot quickness and length can disrupt his releases at the line of scrimmage and make his ability to run the route difficult.
Overall, Burks has the physical profile to be a dynamic playmaker on the next level if utilized in the correct system.
Prospect Projection: Day 2 — Winning Starter
Written By: Keith Sanchez
