Missouri star Luther Burden III is declaring for the NFL Draft, he told ESPN.

Burden wraps up his three-year career at Missouri as one of the program’s most productive players and a transformative recruit who helped the school go 20-5 the last two years. He will not play in Missouri’s bowl game and will begin preparing for the NFL Draft.

The decision is expected as it comes after Burden walked on Senior Day in Missouri’s home finale against Arkansas this weekend, which finished Missouri’s season at 9-3. Burden is projected as Mel Kiper Jr.’s No. 19 overall player in the upcoming draft and will be in the contention for the draft’s top wide receiver.

“I feel like this is the best time to enter the draft,” Burden told ESPN. “I’m confident in myself and what I can do at the next level. I’m ready for the next step.”

All of ESPN’s draft analysts have Burden ranked in the top three wide receivers in the upcoming draft with Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan. Burden projects as ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller’s No. 1 receiver. Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz has compared Burden, who is 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds, in style to San Francisco’s Deebo Samuel.

After just three seasons at Missouri, Burden will leave as one of the program’s most prolific and productive receivers. He’s No. 6 on the school’s all-time receiving list (2,263 yards), tied for No. 5 in receiving touchdowns (21) and No. 4 in receptions (192).

“The ultimate goal was to come here and make a difference,” Burden said. “I feel like I met my goal with everything that I set out before I got here. It was a pleasure being here. I will love Mizzou forever.”

Burden expressed his appreciation for his time at Missouri. He thanked his position coach, Jacob Peeler, for “pushing me each and every day.” He added: “Every day wasn’t sunshine and rainbows; there were tough times. I’m grateful for him sticking by my side and pushing me.”

He also expressed his appreciation for the staff and Drinkwitz, who brought him to Columbia in one of the biggest recruiting wins in school history. Burden was the No. 5 overall player in ESPN’s 2022 recruiting rankings.

“I want to thank Coach Drink for giving me the opportunity to come here and represent the state in a positive way,” Burden said. “None of this would happen without him. He’s been at my side since Day 1. I’m thankful for him.”

Burden, who is from St. Louis, chose Missouri over schools like Alabama and Georgia, which proved significant in luring other top talent to the school.

He finished his career with 26 touchdowns – 21 receiving, 4 rushing and one on special teams. His 1,212 receiving yards in 2023 are the third-most in a single-season in program history.

“I just want to be remembered as a player who can change a program,” he said, “and give other people hope to come to Mizzou. You don’t have to go to the top schools. You can make your way. I wanted to be different.”

Burden expressed his appreciation for his teammates and everyone who helped him along his path from his childhood in St. Louis.

He said he’s excited to show the NFL what he can do.

“They’re getting a person who can obviously change the whole program for the better,” he said, “and they’re getting the best playmaker in the country.”

Burden added about his next step: “We’re just getting started.”