Over the next couple of weeks, we here at Bulldawg Illustrated are going to be looking at Georgia football’s incoming freshman class of 2020 in a new series called First Year Look. The Bulldogs’ 2020 class features 25 signees that collectively finished as the No. 1 recruiting class in the country, according to 247Sports and Rivals.
We’ve already taken a look at Carson Beck and Kendall Milton as well as defensive back Daran Branch. Today, we will look at four-star wide receiver Jermaine Burton.
Kirby Smart and his staff were able to flip Burton from LSU on Dec. 18, 2019, and he signed his letter of intent that same day. Burton, who is originally from the Peach State, has been trained by former UGA wide receiver Terrence Edwards. That’s what made it easier for the Calabasas High School (CA) prospect to give UGA his signature.
After the Tigers set multiple passing records in 2019, it seemed like a no brainer that he would stick with his commitment to LSU, but Georgia continued to recruit him heavily. His decision to flip and sign with UGA really helped the Bulldogs finish out a solid group of receivers in the 2020 recruiting class.
Burton was rated as the No. 81 overall prospect in the country, No. 15 wide receiver, and the No. 9 player in the state of California per the 247Sports Composite.
“A very tough, physical player who loves to block and plays with a nice edge in his game. Has the strength to get off press and uses his body well to create separation. Can bully opposing corners and plays with a bit of a chip on his shoulder that rubs some the wrong way but teammates love him. Very nice package of size, speed, hands and play making ability. Can line up anywhere on the field and is among the most versatile pass catchers in the class. Has plus speed and is both dynamic after the catch and able to run past an opposing corner. Has strong hands and does a nice job catching the ball in traffic. Is also a very good return man and should be able to contribute early on as a punt/kick returner. Has all the tools to be a dominant player at the next level and is a natural talent with tremendous upside. Projects as an impact, upper-tier Power 5 starter and future high-round NFL draft pick.”
247Sports’ National Recruiting Analyst Greg Biggins
Burton is probably one of the more versatile and physical receivers in UGA’s 2020 class. We can see him lining up at split end because he has the size and speed to beat corners off the line of scrimmage when the defense is pressing in man coverage. He also has the athletic ability to run routes at the flanker position and also the slot. His size also gives him the ability to make a freak-like play if needed. Look for him to be able to go up and get the ball in 50/50 situations over the next couple of years.
There’s a lot of reasons to why Burton could be an immediate impact player this upcoming fall. Since he just arrived on campus, it will be hard for him to grasp the offense in such a short amount of time. So, the staff will more than likely have to find one suitable place for him on the field for the time being. The slot position is kind of out of the question at the moment because it’s a hard spot to learn in a short time period. Look for Burton to find a home in the flanker spot for next season because the Bulldogs are pretty stacked at split end.
He will be competing with guys like Matt Landers, Kearis Jackson and Trey Blount who haven’t really proven themselves yet. So, that is why Burton should have a chance early in the year. Essentially it will all boil down to who really has the edge coming out of summer workouts and after fall camp heading into fall practice. Georgia’s 2020 recruiting class also features four other receivers: four-stars Marcus Rosemy, Arian Smith and Justin Robinson, and three-star Ladd McConkey.