You’ve probably seen the highlights of Luther Burden III shredding SEC defenses or making plays for the Chicago Bears, but the real story started long before he ever wore a Mizzou or Bears jersey. Honestly, if you want to understand why Luther Burden III is such a problem for NFL defensive backs today, you have to look at the chaos he caused in the St. Louis high school scene.
It wasn't just about the stats. It was the way he moved—like a human joystick.
Before he became a household name in Columbia, Missouri, Burden was a dual-sport nightmare for opposing coaches. He didn't just play for one powerhouse; he actually shaped the legacies of two different schools on both sides of the Mississippi River. Most people remember him as the face of East St. Louis High School, but his journey actually kicked off at Cardinal Ritter College Prep in St. Louis.
The Cardinal Ritter Years: More Than Just Football
Burden started his high school career at Cardinal Ritter, and he wasn't just some football specialist. He was a hooper. A serious one.
He helped lead the Lions to a Class 3 state championship in basketball during the 2019-20 season. He wasn't just a benchwarmer on that team either; he was dropping 17 or 18 points a night in the state tournament. He even played alongside current NFL speedster Jameson Williams for a year at Ritter. Think about that for a second. Imagine being a high school corner and seeing Jameson Williams on one side and a young Luther Burden on the other. That’s just not fair.
During his freshman and sophomore seasons at Cardinal Ritter, Burden was already putting up stupid numbers. We’re talking about a kid who hauled in around 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns as a freshman. He was basically a man among boys from the jump.
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The Move to East St. Louis High School
Midway through his high school career, things changed. Burden transferred to East St. Louis Senior High School in Illinois—the legendary "City of Champions." This is where the legend really grew.
East Side is a different beast. The culture there is built on "Flyer Pride," and Burden fit right in. He wasn't just the top recruit in the state of Illinois; he was arguably the best receiver in the entire country.
His senior year at East St. Louis was basically a video game. Check these numbers out:
- 71 receptions
- 1,174 receiving yards
- 20 receiving touchdowns
- 8 punt return touchdowns
That last stat is the one that still blows my mind. Eight. Every time the other team kicked him the ball, it felt like there was a 50/50 chance he was taking it to the house. He ended up being named the 2021 MaxPreps Illinois Player of the Year, and for good reason. He led the Flyers to the 6A state championship game, where they barely lost a 37-36 heartbreaker to Cary-Grove. Even in that loss, Burden was incredible, racking up over 100 yards and multiple scores.
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Why Everyone Wanted Him
By the time he was a senior, Burden had every big-name coach in the country ringing his phone. Kirby Smart wanted him at Georgia. Nick Saban wanted him at Alabama.
He was a "Five-Star Plus+" recruit. That means every major recruiting service—247Sports, Rivals, and On3—all had him as a top-five player nationally. He was the #1 ranked wide receiver in the class of 2022.
Most kids in that position pack their bags for Tuscaloosa or Athens. They want the guaranteed ring. But Burden did something different. On October 19, 2021, in his high school gym, he sat behind three hats: Georgia, Alabama, and Missouri. He picked up the Bama hat, looked at it, set it down, and put on the Mizzou cap.
He wanted to stay home. He wanted to be the guy who turned around the home-state program.
The "Burden" of Expectation
The hype at East St. Louis High School was so intense that some people wondered if he could actually live up to it. It’s hard being the "hero" before you’ve even played a college snap.
But if you watched him play in high school, you saw the traits that made him a pro:
- The Build: He wasn't a skinny track star. He was built like a running back (around 6'0", 200+ lbs), which made him impossible to tackle 1-on-1.
- The "Dog" Mentality: Coach Drinkwitz at Missouri always talked about Luther's competitive spirit. He hated losing more than he loved winning.
- Versatility: He could play the slot, he could go deep, and he was a lethal return man.
How to Use the "Luther Burden Blueprint"
If you're a young athlete or a coach looking at what made Burden's high school tenure so successful, there are a few actionable takeaways. It wasn't just luck.
- Don't specialize too early. Luther’s time on the basketball court at Cardinal Ritter gave him the body control and "rebounding" skills he used to win 50/50 balls on the football field.
- Master the "Run After Catch" (YAC). Burden didn't just catch the ball and go down. He treated every catch like a punt return.
- Embrace the pressure. Transferring to a high-profile school like East St. Louis put a target on his back. Instead of shrinking, he put up better numbers.
Ultimately, Luther Burden’s high school career wasn't just about the 3,000+ total yards or the dozens of touchdowns. It was about a kid from St. Louis who decided he was good enough to stay home and build something. Whether he was rocking the purple and gold at Ritter or the orange and blue at East St. Louis, he was always the best player on the grass.
If you want to track his progress today, you can find him in the NFL, but for those of us in the Midwest, we’ll always remember the Friday nights when he made high school football look like a middle school playground.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Watch his senior year highlights at East St. Louis to see the punt return dominance.
- Follow his community work; he still hosts youth football camps at both Cardinal Ritter and East St. Louis Senior High.
- Look up the "City of Champions" documentary series to get a feel for the environment he played in during his final years of high school.