Behind the first impressions Luther Burden is making in his first spring at Mizzou

When asked about standout performers in spring football practice, Missouri senior linebacker Chad Bailey pondered for a moment.

Then, instead of talking defense, Bailey directed attention to the other side of the ball.

He praised a freshman wide receiver who needs no introduction among Tiger fans.

"I will say Luther Burden is that dude," Bailey told members of the local media. "He's going to make a lot of plays for us this year."

Throughout the first few weeks of spring practice and his first few months at Missouri, Burden has impressed players on both sides of the ball and has earned the respect from veteran receivers as well.

The excitement has been palpable since Burden donned an MU cap back in October. The five-star's commitment and signing proved Missouri's recruiting plan was working and that a significant pipeline from St. Louis to Columbia is active.

Now the Tigers are seeing the benefits of Burden first-hand.

Teammates say Burden has taken in information, tips and adjustments to the college game like a sponge.

"He didn't come in like he was the top recruit in the country at receiver, which he was," receiver Barrett Banister said. "He's made himself just another freshman coming in, ready to learn, ready to go to work."

The receiving corps isn't allowing Burden to easily walk right into a starting spot, however.

Banister came back for another season, Tauskie Dove is a consistent veteran presence, and Chance Luper earned playing time last season, too. Then there are young wideouts JJ Hester, Dominic Lovett, Mookie Cooper as well as fellow true freshman Mekhi Miller.

First-year receivers coach Jacob Peeler has coached the likes of Elijah Moore, A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf to the NFL. Peeler knows how to develop receivers talent and said he took the position at Missouri to coach in the Southeastern Conference again. Now he has a five-star standout to work with in Burden.

Peeler has already noticed some of the benefits of how the high-profile talent has a humble approach to college football.

More: Why did Luther Burden commit to Mizzou football over Georgia and Alabama? Here's what he said

"He was well-coached in high school," Peeler said. "Obviously a tremendous athlete, but he's come in and done everything the right way and tried to ask the right questions."

Dove recalled one of the first practices of the spring where Burden did exactly what he was recruited to do: make a big play.

"He caught a long ball for a touchdown," Dove said. "He came ready to work,"

Burden's presence in the spring as an early enrollee benefits the ready-to-work mentality that his teammates are seeing.

Peeler noted that Burden will have a leg up on others in Missouri's 2022 recruiting class by getting an early look at everything the program runs offensively.

"That's the biggest thing that separates freshmen like Luther and those guys," Peeler sad. "He'll be so much further along because he's heard the terminology and the technique and the plays four months before the actual September game gets here."

Burden's fall camp will be more than just an installation of the offense. He will be able to factor into the Tigers' offense, which will be focused on determining which quarterback will start against Louisiana Tech.

Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz hasn't been overly complimentary of Burden in the spring, perhaps to try and control some of the hype Burden has brought to the program.

“Yeah, he’s a good player,' Drinkwitz said Tuesday.

But Burden has already made his mark with the coaching staff. He was one of the first players to earn his number for spring practice.

Fans will get a first look at Burden this Saturday at Missouri's spring game. The excitement will be there, along with Burden's playmaking ability.

That's just a precursor to what Burden expects to bring this fall.

"He's done really good in routes on air, great in the classroom, meeting room, stuff like that," Banister said. "He's done everything he's been asked to do."

Chris Kwiecinski is the sports editor for the Columbia Daily Tribune, overseeing University of Missouri and Boone County sports coverage. Follow him on Twitter @OchoK_ and contact him at CKwiecinsk@gannett.com or 435-414-3261.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Luther Burden makes big impact for Mizzou football in spring practice