Luther Burden III Eyes Proving 'Everybody Wrong' in 40-Yard Dash: 'A Lot of Doubters'

Luther Burden III says he is ready to prove doubters wrong when he runs the 40-yard dash Saturday at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis.

"Yeah, I'm running the 40, and I'm trying to run fast," the former Missouri wideout told reporters Friday.

Burden added: "A lot of doubters are here, so I just want to prove everybody wrong."

Burden earned early draft buzz by making 86 catches and recording 1,212 receiving yards for Missouri as a sophomore in 2023.

His usage dropped during his junior season, however, as Theo Wease picked up more targets. Burden finished the 2024 season with 61 catches for 676 yards.

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. said earlier this week on First Draft that Burden was no longer a lock to hear his name called on the first day of the draft.

"Based on what he had done the previous season... he was the guy. He was the guy that people couldn't happen. So you expected this year for an improvement to basically happen, and all of a sudden, Luther Burden III is a top-10 pick in the NFL draft. Didn't happen," Kiper said.

Burden told reporters Friday that dip in production was in part because he received "a lot more" opportunities his sophomore season.

"I just tried to make my opportunities count when I was given the ball this year," Burden said.

Showing off his speed to scouts this weekend could help Burden convince NFL teams his production drop-off was due to a lack of targets and not because of a lack of speed.

Burden isn't the only prospect looking to make an impression during the 40-yard dash. Former Texas wideout Isaiah Bond told reporters Friday he plans to break Xavier Worthy's record time of 4.21 seconds this weekend.