Deion Burks

NFL Draft Profile: Deion Burks

Position: Wide Receiver | School: Oklahoma (via Purdue) | Class: Redshirt Senior

Height: 5'9" | Weight: 194 lbs | Archetype: Slot / Deep Threat

College Career Summary

Deion Burks is a classic "lightning-in-a-bottle" prospect whose journey took him from a breakout at Purdue to the high-stakes environment of the SEC with Oklahoma. After earning Second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2023 with the Boilermakers, Burks transferred to Norman with massive expectations.

His first season at Oklahoma (2024) was hampered by a nagging soft-tissue injury that limited him to just five games. However, Burks returned for the 2025 season determined to prove his durability. In a revamped Sooners offense led by transfer QB John Mateer, Burks re-established himself as a premier vertical threat from the slot. He finished 2025 with 57 receptions for 620 yards and 4 touchdowns, saving his absolute best for last—a 107-yard performance against Alabama in the season finale.

Career Stats Highlights

• Receptions: 151 | Receiving Yards: 1,669 | TDs: 14

• 2025 Regular Season Stats: 57 Rec, 620 Yds, 4 TD

• Drops: 5 (Concentration fluctuates on shorter "business" routes).

2025 Game-by-Game Grades

Week	Opponent	Stats (Rec/Yds/TD)	Grade	Scout's Notes
1	vs Illinois St	7 / 88 / 1	A-	Dominant opener; showcased immediate chemistry with Mateer.
2	vs Michigan	7 / 101 / 1	A	Proved he could burn elite Power-4 secondaries vertically.
3	@ Temple	3 / 36 / 0	C+	Quiet afternoon; offense focused on the ground game.
4	vs Auburn	6 / 40 / 0	B-	Heavy volume underneath but limited YAC opportunities.
6	vs Kent State	2 / 10 / 0	D	Worst Game. Virtually non-existent in a massive blowout.
7	vs Texas	5 / 64 / 0	B+	Gritty performance in the Red River Rivalry; reliable in traffic.
8	@ S. Carolina	2 / 19 / 0	C	Limited targets; struggled to find space against physical press.
9	@ Ole Miss	4 / 32 / 0	B-	Impact was felt more as a decoy stretching the safeties.
10	@ Tennessee	6 / 45 / 0	B	Solid chain-mover in a hostile environment.
12	@ Alabama	2 / 19 / 0	C+	Low volume but a vital win for the program.
13	vs Missouri	2 / -2 / 0	D+	Frustrating day; utilized poorly in the screen game.
14	vs LSU	4 / 61 / 1	A-	Home-run threat returned; 45-yard TD ignited the crowd.
Bowl	vs Alabama	7 / 107 / 1	A+	The Apex. Put the team on his back in his final college game.

Scouting Grade Rubric

Intangibles (.20) — Grade: 90/100

• Leadership: Lead-by-example veteran who mentors the younger Sooner WRs.

• Mental Toughness: Recovered from a disappointing, injury-riddled 2024 to play all 13 games in 2025.

• Competitor: High. Plays with a chip on his shoulder as an undersized receiver.

• Team Player: Praised for his perimeter blocking despite his smaller frame.

• Star Power: When he's "on," he changes how safeties must align, opening the box for the run game.

Physical Tools (.20) — Grade: 84/100

• Height/Weight: 5'9", 194 lbs. (Under 6'0"/200lb targets; dense, "bowling ball" build).

• Stamina: High; maintains top-end speed on deep clear-outs.

• Durability: Proved doubters wrong by staying healthy for the full 2025 campaign.

• Injury History: Soft tissue (2024) and upper body (2024). Medicals are much cleaner after 2025.

Attributes (.20) — Grade: 91/100

• Catching: Solid hands; occasionally body-catches, but can pluck the ball in stride.

• Route Running: Advanced. Crisp breaks; understands how to manipulate blind spots.

• Body Control: Excellent; can track the deep ball over either shoulder effortlessly.

• Separation: Wins with pure vertical acceleration and sharp "suddenness" on out-routes.

• Release: Sudden; his low center of gravity makes it hard for corners to get a clean jam.

Athleticism (.20) — Grade: 94/100

• Speed: Elite. Reported 4.38-4.40 range; he is a verified burner.

• Agility: High. Elite short-area twitch; nightmare to tackle in a phone booth.

• Jumping: Solid; doesn't have huge height, but his vertical helps him compete for 50/50 balls.

• Acceleration: Elite. Reaches top gear within three steps.

• Break Tackle: Surprisingly strong for his size; difficult to bring down with arm tackles.

IQ (.20) — Grade: 93/100

• Awareness: High; savvy in the scramble drill and knows when to "sit" his route in zone.

NFL Scouting Report

• Strengths: Game-breaking vertical speed; elite slot-receiver suddenness; much-improved durability profile; dangerous after the catch (YAC) potential; experienced against high-level SEC/Big Ten competition.

• Weaknesses: Physical limitations (5'9") cap his catch radius; can be crowded at the line by elite physical press; some concentration drops on intermediate crosses.

• Scheme Fit: Ideal Vertical Slot / Z-Receiver in a Spread or Pro-Style offense that creates mismatches in space (e.g., Dolphins, Texans, Lions).

• NFL Comparison: Jaylen Waddle (Lite) / Wan'Dale Robinson.

Scout's Final Word

"Deion Burks is the explosive spark plug every modern NFL offense needs. While his size will lead some to pigeonhole him as 'just a slot,' his 2025 tape against Michigan and Alabama proves he can stretch a defense vertically against anyone. He’s a high-IQ playmaker who improved his stock significantly by showing he could handle a 13-game SEC workload. Projected: Late Round 2 / Early Round 3."