UConn Football: Can Caleb Burton III stabilize Huskies passing attack?

Jim Mora and the UConn Huskies have targeted a specific type of prospect when utilizing the transfer portal. That is, former star recruits who didn’t see much action at their power school commit. They’ve targeted players where the talent is evident, but hasn’t fully translated to the collegiate level.  The Huskies used this strategy to snag Skyler Bell from Wisconsin a year ago, as well as starting quarterback Nick Evers. The next beneficiary of such a strategy—Caleb Burton III—is hoping his senior year with UConn will catch the eyeballs of NFL scouts. 

Who is Caleb Burton III?

After three seasons of collegiate experience, Caleb Burton III joins UConn with hopes of an increased role, one that seemed in his crosshairs right out of high school. 

A multi-sport athlete—a letterman in basketball—Burton III quickly became a top wide receiver recruit. From Del Valle High School, he was a star in his freshman and sophomore seasons at the Austin, Texas suburban school. 

He compiled 82 catches for 1,515 yards and 18 touchdowns in his first two years, earning first-team all-district honors as a sophomore. Though he missed his junior season due to a knee injury, he still received prominent power-school interest. 

Among the schools that offered him were Penn State, Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Alabama, Michigan, Florida State, and many others. However, Burton III chose the Ohio State Buckeyes ahead of his senior season. 

He finished high school at Lake Travis, the same school as current NFL stars Garrett Wilson and Baker Mayfield. A five-star prospect, Burton III went into college as the seventh-best wide out recruit in the country per 247. 

Gabe Brooks, its scouting analyst, shared that Burton III, “could become an impact high-major receiver with a ceiling in the top half of the NFL Draft.” That dream, however, quickly became more and more unrealistic. 

Journey to Connecticut

Though his high school resume spoke volumes as to the talent Burton III displayed, it was an uphill climb trying to find playing time in a jam-packed receiver room at Ohio State. Even after losing Chris Olave, the pass-catching room starred Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba catching passes from C.J. Stroud. 

Quickly, it became obvious that a rotational position would be hard to come by. 

With that in mind, Burton transferred to the Auburn Tigers—who offered him out of high school—for his sophomore and junior campaigns. Unfortunately, the receiver didn’t see much playing time there, either. Even without an elite receiving corps at Auburn in 2023, Burton III only totaled the fourth-most yards and fifth-most receptions on the team in nine games, and didn’t score a touchdown. 

As the group improved in 2024, his usage only continued to lessen. He played just three games, catching just two passes for 49 yards throughout the whole season. He did not record a touchdown, either.

So, quickly, Burton III went from a top wide receiver recruit primed for a prolific college career to a non-rotational collegiate piece. Now, he now heads to Connecticut hoping to once again get noticed on the national level. 

What can Burton III add to UConn’s offense?

On the positive side, UConn is thrilled to have Burton III in its program and as a part of its offense. After losing Jassaiah Gathings and TJ Sheffield, coach Mora’s Huskies were desperate for pass-catching depth. That is what Burton III adds next to Skyler Bell. 

Although his production appears lackluster thus far, his sophomore season brought some positive sparks that could translate in Storrs. He went for 45 yards against Arkansas in Week 10, caught four passes the next week against New Mexico State, and shined in the Music City Bowl. Though the Tigers suffered a 31-13 defeat, Burton III compiled five catches for 78 yards, leading the team in both categories. 

So, that is some validation of proof that he can succeed at the FBS level, let alone against higher competition that Connecticut isn’t scheduled to face in 2025. 

Based on his prolific high school tape, Burton III excels as an outside receiver, and has marveled as a route runner. He is a premier target on slant routes, and his quick first step and explosive burst make him a dangerous option, if used properly. He could complement Bell—who dominates on deep connections—extremely well in this offensive scheme.

However, if need-be, Burton III could be a deep threat himself. After all, it was a role he held with pride at Lake Travis. Burton III and Joe Fagnano could have an extremely fun time working opposing secondaries this coming season. 

What should UConn fans expect from Caleb Burton III?

With two years of collegiate eligibility remaining, Huskies fans should hope this is a one-and-done season for Burton III in Storrs. If that’s the case, it most likely means the former five-star figured things out and received national attention once again. 

Mora and offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis are buying his stock and betting that he does become the consistent threat high school scouts projected him to become. While the numbers don’t lie, they also don’t paint the full picture. That is, one that saw Burton III with limited opportunities to prove his worth at both Auburn and OSU. 

Some places are projecting Burton III to fill the WR2 void for Connecticut this coming season. After all, it’s a position group that lacked elite talent to begin with just last season. An offense heavily reliant on its rushing attack, UConn could take immense strides through the air if Burton III lives up to even part of his initial potential. 

Huskies fans should be excited about this gamble, adding an elite talent to its receiving corps that could elevate its offensive ceiling in 2025.