St. Louisan Luther Burden III realized a lifelong dream on Friday when he was selected by the Chicago Bears on Friday in the second round of the National Football League Draft.
A former prep star from Cardinal Ritter and East St. Louis and college standout at Mizzou, Burden was taken by the Bears with the 39th pick in the draft. Burden was in Columbia with his family, friends and Missouri.
Burden declared for the NFL Draft after a stellar three-year career with the Tigers, where he was one of the nation’s top wide receivers. In his last season, he had 61 receptions for 676 yards and six touchdowns. He also rushed for 115 yards and scored two more touchdowns.
Burden’s best season came as a sophomore when he had 86 receptions for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns. He was a Second Team All-American and First Team All-Southeastern Conference selection.
Another former area standout wide receiver to hear his name called was former East St. Louis standout Dominic Lovett, who was taken by the Detroit Lions in the seventh round. Lovett started his collegiate career at Mizzou, before transferring to Georgia, where he played his final two seasons.
In his two years at Georgia, the 5 ’10” 187-pound Lovett had 113 receptions for 1,220 yards and 10 touchdowns. He will join a Detroit Lions team that already has former St. Louis area standouts Jameson Williams (Cardinal Ritter), Sam LaPorta (Highland, IL) and Isaiah Williams (Trinity Catholic)