Deion Burks WR Oklahoma | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Deion Burks WR Oklahoma
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
ROLE: Multi-Role Receiver | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Updated: 05/14/2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Draft Year: 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
40 time: 4.43 seconds (76%*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ROLE: Multi-Role Receiver | |
Last Updated: 05/14/2025 | |
Draft Year: 2026 | |
40 time: 4.43 seconds (76%*) | |
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Overall Rating: | 82.7 / 100 | |
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Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
Defense Rating: |
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76% |
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
QB Rating When targeted: | 79.5 | |
Hands: |
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66% |
Short Receiving: |
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73% |
Intermediate Routes: |
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77% |
Deep Threat: |
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62% |
Blocking: |
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61% |
DRAFT PROJECTION:
5th
Overall Rank:
#147
Position rank:
#21
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College Games: 31 College Snaps: 1380 | ||
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College Combine Results
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Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
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Jha'Quan Jackson - Tulane |
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92% |
Jaylin Lane - Virginia Tech |
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83% |
Anthony Gould - Oregon State |
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79% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Deion Burks came from Belleville High School in Michigan as a three-star recruit who posted 35 catches for 819 yards and 12 touchdowns during his junior season. The track athlete and football standout earned Division 1-2 All-Michigan honors while helping Belleville secure a perfect 9-0 record and Kensington Lakes-East league title in 2020. Born January 8, 2003, Burks brought his speed-based skillset to the college level where his development would follow a steady progression.After redshirting at Purdue in 2021 and seeing limited action in 2022, Burks established himself in 2023 as the Boilermakers' leading receiver with 47 catches, 629 yards and 7 touchdowns – good enough for Honorable Mention All-Big Ten recognition. The 5'9", 190-pound receiver then transferred to Oklahoma for the 2024 season, where he made 31 receptions in just five games before injuries sidelined him for much of the season. His 31 catches set a program record for most receptions in a player's first five games as a Sooner.
Burks's 2024 campaign was derailed by a thigh contusion suffered against Tennessee and later a concussion sustained against Missouri. Rather than declaring for the draft, Burks elected to return to Norman for his final season of eligibility in 2025, switching back to his familiar No. 4 jersey. The slot receiver now enters his fifth collegiate season looking to showcase his full potential while taking on a leadership role in Oklahoma's receiving corps.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Super athletic - Made Bruce Feldman's 2023 Freak's List at #95. He Wrote: " The 5-9 3/4, 191-pounder, who had 15 catches for 149 yards last season, benched 350 pounds for three reps, hit almost 22.3 MPH on the GPS and did 27 reps with 115 pounds on a single arm press. He also squatted 450 pounds for three reps. "
- Lethal route runner with quick-twitch agility and sharp cuts, displaying a veteran's understanding of how to manipulate defenders through tempo changes and deceptive route stems.
- Creates natural separation with outstanding foot quickness and body control, showing particular skill in his ability to stop on a dime and accelerate again to leave defenders grasping at air.
- Electric after the catch with slippery elusiveness that makes arm tacklers look foolish, possessing the short-area quickness and spatial awareness to find creases in traffic.
- Tracks the deep ball naturally when vertical, showing comfort adjusting to throws over either shoulder while maintaining speed and body control to finish explosive plays.
- Displays surprising toughness for his size when working the middle of the field, showing no hesitation attacking seams and willing to absorb contact to secure catches.
- Brings valuable versatility with legitimate experience both in the slot and outside, along with extensive special teams background including kick return capabilities.
- Elevates his game in crucial moments, showing a knack for finding soft spots in zone coverage on third downs and in the red zone where his quick-breaking routes shine.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Size limitations at 5'9" and 190 pounds significantly restrict his contested catch radius, often getting bodied out of position by longer corners who can match his physicality.
- Struggles mightily against press coverage from physical corners, lacking the play strength to consistently defeat hands at the line and getting redirected too easily.
- Concentration lapses have led to concerning drop issues, with eight charted drops in 2023 that often occur when he's trying to transition upfield before securing the catch.
- Gets stuck on contact mid-route and lacks the functional strength to disengage once a defender gets hands on him, particularly evident against top-tier competition.
- Limited blocking impact due to size and apparent reluctance to engage physically, showing neither consistent technique nor compensatory effort in this area.
Scouting Report: Summary
When the ball hits Burks's hands in space, you see the electric playmaking ability that will attract NFL attention – his short to intermediate route mastery creates consistent separation that translates immediately to the next level. Yet this same receiver who can make defenders miss in the open field becomes significantly less effective when physically challenged at the line or mid-route, where his slight frame becomes a liability rather than an asset.His ceiling as an NFL contributor hinges entirely on usage and scheme protection. Deploying him from bunch formations, utilizing pre-snap motion, and keeping him away from boundary press coverage will accentuate his strengths while masking his physical limitations. The technical route-running precision Burks displays on tape—particularly in the short and intermediate areas—gives him third-down value that offensive coordinators will covet, but the complete package comes with clear restrictions.
The tape shows a receiver whose impact varies dramatically based on matchup and assignment. When allowed clean releases and operating in space, Burks demonstrates Day 2 value with his separation quickness and YAC ability. However, the same player disappears against physical corners who can disrupt timing and positioning through contact. His career trajectory will ultimately be determined by landing in an offense that creates favorable matchups through formation and motion while having the depth to avoid forcing him into unfavorable situations against press-man boundary coverage.
Written By:
Eli Cooper (Big 12)
How other scouting services rate Deion Burks (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
119.8
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
21.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.