Georgia visit could determine what happens with WR Luther Burden

It’s shaping up as a who’s who of recruits in Athens, as Georgia hosts Kentucky in a battle of undefeated teams.

The setting around campus and between the hedges should be the perfect opportunity to wow recruits. And arguably the most important visitor this weekend is On300 receiver Luther Burden of East St. Louis, Ill.

Burden, the nation’s No. 90 player overall, was committed to Oklahoma for more than 10 months. But in August, he reopened his recruitment.

Alabama, Georgia and Missouri emerged as his top three teams. But in all honesty, it’s down to UGA and Mizzou. He visited the Tide this summer, but hasn’t been back to campus since and would be walking into a room loaded with elite talent.

Tigers team to beat for Luther Burden — for now

The Georgia visit could go a long way toward shaping Luther Burden’s final decision. But heading into the official visit, Mizzou has momentum because of its location and connections with the East St. Louis program.

Luther Burden has also taken multiple trips to Missouri, including an unofficial visit during a 7-on-7 camp that East St. Louis was participating in. The Tigers have two 2020 recruits from ESL on the roster, and are recruiting multiple players in the 2022, 2023 and 2024 classes from there.

“Mizzou is close to home, so that’s always a plus,” Burden said recently. “Coach (Eliah) Drinkwitz is really rebuilding the program, and I can see that they are getting better with recruiting. I really like coach Drinkwitz’s offense. Last game they threw the ball 50 times.”

UGA get shot to shift momentum

That being said, UGA is going to get a legitimate look from Burden. He says his relationships with the coaches at Georgia are strong.

“Coach (Cortez) Hankton is a real dude,” Burden said. “I feel like I can trust him. Me and Coach (Kirby) Smart also built a relationship. We talk almost every day now.”

Burden also sees a chance to play early in Athens.

“Georgia is low on receivers right now,” Burden said. “Me coming in right now would be a good time to come play right away. They play true freshmen a lot, and that’s big for me.”

Jake Reuse from On3’s DawgsHQ is giving UGA a legit chance here, especially since Burden is visiting just days before his announcement on Oct. 20.

“It’s Luther Burden’s official visit weekend, so that feels quite crucial,” Reuse said. “This one could help Georgia pull away in what’s been a really tight race.”

Other top targets visiting UGA

The Dawgs are also expecting No. 5 overall and five-star defensive lineman Mykel Williams of Columbus Hardaway on campus this weekend. The longtime USC commitment has visited Athens countless times and there continues to be a lot of intel indicating a flip from the Trojans could eventually happen.

Four-star and On300 cornerback Jaheim Singletary of Jacksonville (Fla.) Riverside and On300 safety Kamari Wilson of IMG Academy are also scheduled to visit. Singletary lists UGA, Florida and Miami as his top teams. Insiders continue to “feel good” about the Dawgs’ chances with Wilson.

For a more complete look at Georgia’s recruiting weekend, be sure to visit On3’s DawgsHQ.