Jermaine Burton made a business decision, and it's already paying dividends for Alabama’s new receiver

Jermaine Burton has made exactly one comment — a tweet no less — since the junior wideout opted to transfer from Georgia to Alabama in mid-January. 

“My career. Nobody else’s.”

In the words of the late, great Bernie Mac, “Nuff said.”

While Burton’s decision to leave the reigning national championships for the school’s latest archival drew the ire of much of the Bulldogs’ faithful, the veteran has quickly immersed himself with the Crimson Tide this offseason. After a strong showing during offseason conditioning work, head coach Nick Saban recently highlighted the receiver’s play in their latest spring scrimmage. 

“Jermaine Burton did a good job today,” said Saban, who doesn’t typically dole out much individual praise during the offseason. 

Burton’s move might’ve stunned some folks initially, but welcome to the new world of college football — and that’s not a bad thing.

With the transfer portal and name, image and likeness now fixtures within the sport, a player with Burton’s potential and talent can have his cake and eat it too — all in the same college career. The player empowerment era of college football isn’t truly for everyone, but it does give a select group real agency and freedom.  

Burton ultimately made a decision that maximizes his potential value — in the present (NIL) and future (NFL Draft).

Why Jermaine Burton transferred to Alabama

Jermaine Burton was a good receiver at Georgia. He battled injuries as both a freshman and sophomore, but when available, the former blue-chip recruit was a steady playmaker (team-high 19.12 yards per catch) and sure-handed receiver (26 catches on 30 targets in 2021). He was a smooth route runner and good teammate. 

What he wasn’t was a featured star.

Georgia’s offense wasn’t designed to best highlight Jermaine Burton’s skill-set. The Bulldogs haven’t had a 1st Round receiver drafted since AJ Green in 2011, and Burton wasn’t going to snap that streak in 2023. 

And you know what? That’s ok. Things worked out pretty well for Kirby Smart last season. 

Smart has taken an egalitarian approach with his offensive playmakers, spreading touches evenly among tailbacks, wideouts and tight ends. Burton would’ve been a valuable piece in UGA’s passing attack in 2022, but he would’ve shared targets with the nation’s top tight end in Brock Bowers, plus impressive sophomore wideout Adonai Mitchell, and tight ends Darnell Washington and Arik Gilbert, among others. 

At Alabama, Jermaine Burton has the opportunity to slide into Jameson Williams’ shoes and become Bryce Young’s go-to target. Williams had 79 catches for 1,572 yards in 2021. Burton has 53 catches in two seasons at UGA. 

The Tide, which averaged around 11 more passes a game than the Bulldogs last season, have had four receivers drafted in the first round the last two years. Williams stands to be No. 5 in three weeks. Meanwhile, George Pickens will become the first UGA wideout drafted in three years. 

So: Catch less passes from Stetson Bennett or more passes from the reigning Heisman Trophy winner? 

Burton simply made a shrewd business decision. 

On the day he announced his transfer to Alabama, Burton’s NIL valuation spiked by $36K, per On3’s database. It’s only risen in the following months, more than doubling in value now (sitting at $120,000) after holding at around $60K following UGA’s national championship victory. 

Burton’s NIL potential is only going to increase as he gets more exposure with the Tide, too. If he flashes during A-Day later this month, then his value will rise. What about if he catches a touchdown or two in primetime against Texas A&M?

Yes, Burton’s move was unusual in that he left a championship team for the very program they just beat, but ultimately, he helped Georgia win a ring, and now he can go improve his own professional stock in an offense that will cater to his potential. Much like Jermaine Johnson, who left Georgia for more playing time and exposure at Florida State and is now a projected Top 20 NFL Draft pick, Burton has the chance to be a guy who was buried on a deep team but now could become a Day 1 or 2 pick in 2023. 

That’s the system working.