Mizzou football’s Luther Burden, Brady Cook preview busy weekend at NFL Scouting Combine

Three former Mizzou football players arrived at the NFL Scouting Combine with 32 options and one mission: to prove they’re some of the best offensive talents in the country.

The trio spoke to media members Friday ahead of their performances in the combine at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.

Former star wideout Luther Burden III kept things general, declining to share much at all. He said he’d connect well with any NFL quarterback, keeping 32 options open for the St. Louis native. When asked what player comes to mind when he thinks about the combine, he couldn’t answer.

He declined to share which teams he’s spoken with so far. One thing Burden was able to offer is between Tigers offensive coordinator Kirby Moore and his brother, New Orleans Saints coach Kellen Moore. Burden is “pretty sure they probably had a conversation.”

While it’s not much to go off, Burden showed plenty of confidence behind his comments. He said he models his game after himself, loves the way he plays and can play the best anywhere, whether it be in the slot or outside.

When asked which of his skill sets will translate best into the pros, his response was “everything.” What about a route or concept he wants to do more in the NFL?

“Anything. Just get me the ball,” Burden said.

His goal for the scouting event? To show what he’s said all year long: that he’s the best wide receiver in the country. Burden said he’s different “in every aspect” from any other receiver at the combine, a feat he will prove on the turf at Lucas Oil Stadium on Saturday.

“I just want to show I’m the best on the field at all times,” Burden said. “I’ve got my head down, a chip on my shoulder and am just ready to work.”

That chip is evident by his “something to prove” mentality, a Mizzou mantra that has manifested its way into the offseason while he works to prove an increasing amount of doubters wrong as his draft stock seems to fall.

But the stats may not play in Burden’s favor. While his 61 receptions for 676 yards and six TDs in 2024 cemented Burden in Mizzou history at No. 4 all-time in receptions, No. 6 all-time in receiving yards and in a tie for No. 5 in receiving touchdowns, it doesn’t compare on paper to the 86 receptions for 1,212 yards and nine scores he accumulated in his sophomore 2023 season.

One highly regarded aspect of Burden’s game is punt returns, which also took a dip between 2023 and 2024. He tallied four returns for 31 yards in the 2024 regular season compared to the eight returns for 70 yards he had in 2023.

Burden confirmed he wants to continue fielding punts in the NFL. When asked why he wasn’t as productive this season at Missouri, he had one word: “Protection.”

It extends past returns, however. Burden elaborated that the shift in productivity between his sophomore and junior seasons goes deeper than just his game.

“The system I was in wasn’t able to show all of the routes you guys want to see,” Burden said. “I can definitely run routes, and I’m here to show you guys that.”

The blame doesn’t solely fall on Missouri, however. Burden said he knows he’s too good to be left unplanned for.

“I’m pretty much the game plan for every team I face,” Burden said. “It’s not going to be easy getting me the ball. I knew that going into the game.”

The numbers don’t seem to worry Burden, however, even as projections have dropped him to a late first-round pick or even an early second-round selection. He left the podium by sharing the biggest lesson that he learned from Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz.

“Everything’s not going to be sunshine and rainbows,” Burden said. “You’ve got to fight the storm back when there’s dark clouds over you.”

Brady Cook is dialed in

While Burden declined to share much, former Mizzou quarterback Brady Cook was more of an open book.

Cook confirmed he met with the Dallas Cowboys during the Hula Bowl in Orlando, but his most notable conversation seems to be one with the New Orleans Saints.

“I have met with the Saints,” Cook said. “I haven’t seen Kellen. I’m sure I’ll see him sometime this week, hopefully tonight, but it is pretty interesting. I’m sure Kellen and Kirby and me would link up. They share information already; they’re always talking. I remember back at Mizzou in quarterback meetings, he’d call Kellen up all the time. ... There’s definitely a great relationship there.”

Cook’s familiarity with the Moore brothers could play to his advantage. The dynamic is rooted in consistent communication and a deep football IQ.

The three-year starter said his interviews have been focused on decision-making, a cornerstone of his game he learned from Drinkwitz.

“Something coach Drink’s preached to me for years is if you’re going to play quarterback at this level, you better make good decisions,” Cook said. “The ball’s in your hand every play. You control where it goes. You control whether you turn it over or not. You control whether you score or not. And it all starts with decision making every single play. I think that’s something that’s been a strength of mine that I can take to the next level.”

Cook’s 2024 season, as well as the offense as a whole, saw a drop in productivity. He confirmed his midseason-long battle against an ankle injury suffered in Missouri’s contest against Auburn has finally healed, allowing him to fully focus on cleaning up the mechanics with Justin Hoover, owner and quarterback developer with Spin It Quarterback Academy, in Kansas City.

The veteran signal-caller’s mobility is what made him a powerhouse on the field. It’s a trait that is coveted among quarterbacks, which Missouri’s latest transfer QB Beau Pribula has as well.

“That’s what Kirby does a great job of, is getting the quarterback run game involved,” Cook said. “And it’s going to be big, especially in the SEC. I think the more you can extend plays, find ways to use your legs in big situations, find ways to use your legs to win games — it’s huge. It takes pressure off everyone else, and I know Beau is a great athlete.”

Reflecting on his five-year stint in the Southeastern Conference, Cook emphasized how it prepared him for the NFL.

“Playing in the SEC is the best it gets,” Cook said. “You’re going against NFL guys every single week, especially on defense, especially on that defensive line. There’s talent all over the field. I wouldn’t change a thing. I loved playing in the SEC. I think it prepared me a ton for what’s coming.”

The tight games Cook played in the SEC also gave him an advantage. While one-possession games are common in the NFL, they aren’t common in all college programs. Lucky for Cook, Mizzou has found itself in 11 one-possession games since the beginning of the 2023 season, with Cook and the Tigers winning 10 of them.

“Winning in one-possession games is huge,” Cook said. “I don’t know the exact percentage, but just about every game in the NFL comes down to one possession. And I think that’s something I’ve had a lot of experience in: two-minute drives, close games, finding ways to win. I think it’s something I’ve had opportunities at, something I’ve been good at and something I’m going to need to continue to be good at to be successful in the NFL.”

No hand? No problem for Theo Wease

Former Mizzou wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. is taking a strategic approach to the combine as he recovers from a hand injury suffered in the Tigers’ postseason appearance in the Music City Bowl in Nashville.

While he plans to participate in testing, he won’t be performing wide receiver drills or the bench press. Instead, he’ll leave that for Missouri’s Pro Day on March 21.

Despite his limited participation, Wease’s confidence in his skills is unwavering. He’s already met with the Buccaneers informally, and hopes he can also meet with the Saints.

The Oklahoma transfer left his mark at Mizzou across two seasons, and his connection to Columbia extends beyond the gridiron.

“I’m a true son. I’ll be back every chance that I get, for sure. That’s my second home,” Wease said.

During the offseason, Wease honed in on his leadership skills while recovering from the injury. He put on his coaching hat at the East-West Shrine Bowl, which he was originally supposed to participate in before the injury.

“I think in life, you’ve got to be comfortable being uncomfortable, just because there’s going to be a lot of situations that you don’t wanna be in,” Wease said. “The ballgame, for example, when I broke my hand, I just turned it into a positive. I focused on a lot of other things: focused on my IQ, focused on my playbooks and other things like that. That’s something I take with me every day.”

Wease credits his growth to Mizzou wide receivers coach Jacob Peeler, whose mentorship helped him refine his game. He also credited Cook for playing a big role in his decision to return for the 2024 season.

“I felt like I left something out there in my first year at Mizzou,” Wease said. “I feel like I did a little better my last year there. But I can always improve on that.”

Off the field, Wease achieved another milestone when he earned his master’s at Mizzou. Walking across the stage was an emotional moment he never anticipated.

“I was feeling a lot of different emotions,” Wease said. “I definitely didn’t think I was going to get my master’s. If I go back to high school and think about my high-school self. Hearing my parents, hearing my family (say) how proud they were of me and how excited they were, there’s nothing more you could ask for.”

But as he reflects on his time as a Tiger, the wins and losses translate into life lessons — and memories he won’t forget.

“A lot of people didn’t think Mizzou was going to be here as deep as we are,” Wease said. “But as far as playing with them, I wish I had another year to play with them again. It was that much fun.”