Signed: Caleb Burton has electric potential as Ohio State receiver

The Early-Signing Period is here and Ohio State is set to once again bring in one of the country’s best recruiting classes. Lettermen Row is tracking the Buckeyes recruiting news throughout the signing period as 2022 commitments officially join the Ohio State football program. The latest Letter of Intent is in: Caleb Burton has signed with the Buckeyes.

COLUMBUS — For more than a year, people have seemed to think Caleb Burton would end up somewhere other than Ohio State.

Oklahoma, Texas, Oregon and others have all been linked — randomly — to the Texas standout. In the end there was never any doubt from the Buckeyes. Now, after signing his Letter of Intent, Caleb Burton is officially a part of the Ohio State football program.

What does this addition do for Ohio State? Let’s take a look at what makes Burton a dynamic pick up for the Buckeyes.

Who is Caleb Burton?

Devin Brown is a 6-foot, 175-pound quarterback who committed to Ohio State on Dec. 1, 2021.

On3 Consensus Ranking: 111 overall, 20 WR, 21 Texas
On3 Ranking: 183 overall, 25 WR, 34 Texas
Hometown: Austin, Texas
High School: Lake Travis

Scouting summary: “Smooth, natural receiver who wins with route-running and technical skill. Uses precise cuts to separate within the route. Shows high-end body control and ability to adjust to the ball. Dangerous off of double moves. A natural hands receiver. Adept at finding holes in zone coverage and works his way to get open on broken plays. Quicker than fast and can improve his burst off the line. Does not project as a receiver who will blow by coverage at the college level. Can also stand to improve his play strength. Missed the entirety of his junior season with a torn ACL.” – Charles Power, On3 director of scouting and rankings

How did Burton end up at Ohio State?

When Caleb Burton committed to Ohio State at the end of his junior season, he was a borderline five-star prospect with the goal of being the next big thing at receiver in Columbus. He made no bones about his affection for the Buckeyes even six months prior, when he landed his Ohio State offer.

“It means a lot because Ohio State is huge — huge — to me,” Burton told Lettermen Row then. “It’s been one of my dream schools. They do a damn good job of sending wide receivers to the league, and then they are successful once they get there. It’s just a perfect fit with the offense they run. It’s perfect for a wide receiver.”

Things haven’t been perfect for Burton since. A knee injury cost him his junior season at Del Valle (Austin, Texas) High School. His father, Charles, resigned from his coaching post at Del Valle after the year and Caleb Burton was looking for a new home. He eventually landed at Texas powerhouse Lake Travis but transfer rules prohibited him from joining the team until the summer.

All those factors have led to Caleb Burton potentially being a steal in the Class of 2022 for the Buckeyes. His potential is off-the-charts, and he’s grown a chip on his shoulder to match.

Burton committed to Ohio State over almost 40 other offers. He picked the Buckeyes a week after Quinn Ewers flipped from Texas to Ohio State, and many believed the two were a de facto “package deal.” The recent transfer of Ewers caused some to speculate that Caleb Burton would follow the quarterback once again but he never waved in his pledge to the Buckeyes.

One of four receivers in the Class of 2022, Burton will enroll at Ohio State in January with the hopes of following the footsteps of his mentor, friend and fellow Austin (Texas) prep product Garrett Wilson.