John Burt Making a Name for Himself in Fall Camp

John Burt hasn’t been in Austin long, but he is definitely making his presence felt in fall practice.

Burt has easily been the most consistent receiver in camp so far. His play has led to the freshman getting reps with the first team offense. This news is both good and bad for the Longhorns.

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The rangy wide receiver came to Texas as one of the nation’s top receivers. The Tallahassee, FL product spurned his hometown Seminoles to play for Charlie Strong. With John Harris and Jaxon Shipley graduated, it opened the door for Burt to play early in his career. He has not disappointed. Burt is using his size to go up and high point passes, something you wouldn’t expect from a freshman trying to adjust to the college game.

His success has been welcomed, because the rest of the receiving corp has not been up to snuff in the early stages of camp. Following a recent practice, Strong noted that there were too many drops by the receivers.

“They did but we missed some big catches. We just can’t have those drops. You talk about keeping the offense going and you like to see it where you just continue to move the ball down the field, when you have a drop, it just stops what we are trying to get done.”

For an offense that is trying to find its identity, this is not a good thing.

Players like Marcus Johnson, Daje Johnson, Jacorey Warrick, Armanti Foreman, Lorenzo Joe, Dorian Leonard and others are ahead of Burt both from a physical standpoint as well as experience. Burt is still learning the offense, having just enrolled in school this summer. The rest of the aforementioned receivers have been in the program, and had the spring to absorb the new offense. Physically, Burt is still lean at 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds. He needs to add bulk to his frame to battle some of the conference’s stronger corners.

Lack of experience and physical stature aside, Burt has caught the eye of his offensive coordinator with his play.

Shawn Watson has nothing but praise for Burt and a couple of other freshmen – Ryan Newsome and DeAndre McNeal.

“I love what I see in John Burt, said Watson on Saturday. I love what I see in Ryan Newsome. I love what I see in DeAndre [McNeal]. Those guys have all added to their rooms that they’re in.”

On the one hand it’s good to see the freshmen pushing the veterans – you don’t want complacency to set in at a position. But it’s also a little unsettling that the offense could be relying on several true freshmen so early in the season (especially true if Connor Williams and Patrick Vahe earn starting jobs along the offensive line).

Next: Will Texas Start Two Freshmen Along the Offensive Line?

Last year Harris emerged out of nowhere to be the offense’s savior. You have to wonder just how bad the offense would have been without him. Will Burt be this season’s John Harris? At the moment he is certainly playing the part.

However the receiving group shakes out in the coming weeks, it is reassuring that at least one receiver looks to be ready for the spotlight come game day versus Notre Dame, even if he is a freshman.