Pro Football Focus names Jermaine Burton wide receiver most likely to break out in 2022

Like Jameson Williams before him, former Georgia receiver Jermaine Burton is hoping for a career-changing season after his jump from the transfer portal to Alabama. Pro Football Focus released their top candidates to break out at every position with the 6-foot-0, 200-pound receiver at the top of their list.

At Alabama, Jermaine Burton has the opportunity to slide into Williams’ shoes and become Bryce Young’s go-to target. The former Tide star ended up as a first-round draft pick and the fourth receiver off of the board on night one.

Catching passes from the reigning Heisman candidate is an easy way for Burton to get his own name in the mix for the nation’s top award. The transfer hauled in 53 receptions for 901 yards and eight touchdowns in his two seasons with the Bulldogs. Williams had 79 catches for 1,572 yards in 2021, his lone season playing under Nick Saban.

According to the On3 Transfer Rankings, Burton was the No. 2 wideout available in NCAA Transfer Portal in the current cycle. Pitt star Jordan Addison is the No. 1 receiver in the portal and hasn’t announced his next move.

Coming out of high school in Calabasas (Cali.), Burton was the No. 77 overall prospect in the 2020 signing class. He was also 16th amongst wide receivers, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Nick Saban discusses wideout room, Burton after spring practice season

Alabama head coach Nick Saban wasn’t pleased with the number of passes his wide receiver room dropped this spring. However, he chalked it up to an inexperienced group going through growing pains during the early offseason.

One receiver that Saban does have confidence in, though? Jermaine Burton. Saban said that Burton has probably been the most consistent player at his position, aside from that, there needs to be some tweaking done to the group over the summer.

“I think we got a little bit more consistent,” Saban said. “We had some drops in the last scrimmage where we didn’t have bad conditions, and we had some today. The conditions cannot be an excuse. I mean, you got to be able to play and adapt whatever the circumstances are, we can’t control the weather.

“Focus, concentration, maturity, all those things go with that. I think some of the young guys have been making an impact this spring.”