Jermaine Burton Bio
Jermaine Demetrius Burton is an American professional football wide receiver who plays in the National Football League. Born on June 28, 2001, in Atlanta, Georgia, he rose to prominence as a standout college receiver at the University of Georgia and the University of Alabama, where he won a College Football Playoff national championship in 2021. Selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, Burton entered the professional ranks as one of the more physically gifted pass catchers in his class, standing 6 feet tall and weighing approximately 205 pounds.
Early Life and Background
Jermaine Demetrius Burton was born on June 28, 2001, in Atlanta, Georgia, and later relocated to California during his formative years. He attended Calabasas High School in Calabasas, California, where he developed into one of the top wide receiver prospects in the country. His combination of size, speed, and reliable hands quickly made him a priority recruit for several major college football programs.
As a high school senior, Burton earned an invitation to play in the 2020 Under Armour All-America Game, a recognition reserved for the nation’s elite prospects. Rated as a four-star recruit by major scouting services, he became one of the most sought-after wide receivers in his class. Eventually, Burton committed to play his college football at the University of Georgia, choosing the Bulldogs over several other prominent programs.
Path to American Football
Burton’s path to elite-level American football began with a strong showing in high school competitions, where his physical tools and competitive nature stood out. His selection to the Under Armour All-America Game validated his status as a blue-chip prospect and provided him with a national platform. As a four-star recruit, he had the luxury of choosing among multiple top-tier programs, a sign of how highly his abilities were regarded.
Choosing the University of Georgia allowed Burton to develop under one of the most respected coaching staffs in college football. At Georgia, he joined a program with a strong track record of producing NFL talent at the wide receiver position. The Bulldogs’ emphasis on physical play and route-running precision helped Burton refine the foundational skills he would later showcase at the highest level of the sport.
Jermaine Burton Career
Early Career (2020-2021)
Burton began his college career at the University of Georgia in 2020, playing as a true freshman for the Bulldogs. He appeared in 10 games during his debut season, recording 27 receptions for 404 yards and three touchdowns. One of his most memorable early performances came in a 31-24 victory over Mississippi State, where he set a career high with 197 receiving yards and two touchdowns, demonstrating his big-play ability from the outset.
As a sophomore in 2021, Burton continued his development with the Bulldogs, appearing in 12 games and tallying 26 receptions for 497 yards and five touchdowns. He was a key contributor to a Georgia team that captured the College Football Playoff national championship that season, giving him early experience on the biggest stage in college football. His role within the offense grew steadily, foreshadowing the increased responsibility he would later shoulder at his next stop.
University of Alabama Breakthrough (2022-2023)
In January 2022, Burton announced his decision to transfer from the University of Georgia to the University of Alabama to play for the Crimson Tide. The move offered him a fresh opportunity to expand his role within a passing offense that consistently produced NFL-caliber receivers. His transition to Tuscaloosa came with high expectations, given his pedigree as a former top recruit and national champion.
Burton’s tenure at Alabama was marked by steady production and a growing leadership presence within the receiving corps. He ultimately led the Crimson Tide in receiving yards during his final college season, finishing with 798 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Those numbers solidified his draft stock and prompted him to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft, where his combination of size, athleticism, and red-zone production caught the attention of professional scouts.
Cincinnati Bengals Era (2024-Present)
Burton was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round, 80th overall, of the 2024 NFL Draft, becoming one of the team’s notable rookie additions at wide receiver. He made an immediate impression by recording his first NFL catch in the Bengals’ Week 2 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, hauling in a pass for 47 yards. In 14 total games for Cincinnati during his rookie season, Burton compiled four receptions for 107 yards, though he did not score a touchdown.
As his rookie year progressed, Burton’s role within the Bengals’ offense fluctuated. On January 3, 2025, it was announced that he would not travel with the team to Pittsburgh for the season finale against the Steelers, a decision attributed to a coach’s choice. He entered the 2025 season with an opportunity to earn a larger role, but did not appear in any regular season games for Cincinnati that year. On December 7, 2025, the Bengals announced his suspension hours before their Week 14 game against the Buffalo Bills, and he was officially waived by the organization the following day.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Burton’s college career came in 2021 when he helped the Georgia Bulldogs capture the College Football Playoff national championship. His record-setting 197-yard performance against Mississippi State during his freshman year remains a personal milestone, while his 798-yard senior season at Alabama established him as a legitimate NFL prospect. The 47-yard reception against Kansas City in his first NFL game marked an early highlight of his professional career.
Jermaine Burton Career Wins
Jermaine Demetrius Burton’s career has been highlighted more by statistical production and championship participation than by individual award hardware. His most celebrated achievement came in 2021 as a member of the College Football Playoff national championship team at the University of Georgia. Across his college and early professional career, he has recorded notable receiving totals and contributed to winning programs at both stops.
University of Georgia Highlights
During his time at Georgia, Burton appeared in 22 total games, recording 53 receptions for 901 yards and eight touchdowns. He played a role on the 2021 College Football Playoff national championship squad, capping his freshman and sophomore campaigns with consistent production. His career-high 197-yard game against Mississippi State stands as one of the signature receiving performances in his early career.
University of Alabama Highlights
As a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide, Burton delivered his most productive college season, leading the team with 798 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. His senior-year production helped solidify his standing as a third-round selection in the 2024 NFL Draft and gave him a strong platform to launch his professional career.
Other Performances
Burton’s high school résumé included an invitation to the 2020 Under Armour All-America Game, one of the premier showcase events for elite prospects. His transition between two of college football’s most storied programs, Georgia and Alabama, reflects the level of talent he carried throughout his amateur career.
Jermaine Burton Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Details about Jermaine Demetrius Burton’s immediate family remain largely private. Public records do not provide confirmed information about his parents or any specific family members involved in athletics, and Burton has generally kept his family life out of the public eye.
Personal Life
Jermaine Demetrius Burton was born in Atlanta, Georgia, and later spent his high school years in Calabasas, California. Publicly available information about his marital status, spouse, or children has not been confirmed. Burton has focused the majority of public attention on his football career rather than his personal life.
2025 Season Performance
Jermaine Demetrius Burton’s 2025 season with the Cincinnati Bengals was marked by limited on-field opportunities. After appearing in 14 games as a rookie in 2024, he did not feature in any of Cincinnati’s regular-season contests during the 2025 campaign. His absence from the lineup removed what had been a developing depth piece from the Bengals’ wide receiver rotation.
The defining moment of Burton’s 2025 season came on December 7, when the Bengals announced his suspension hours before their Week 14 game against the Buffalo Bills. The organization did not publicly state a reason for the suspension, and a day later, on December 8, 2025, Cincinnati officially waived him, ending his tenure with the franchise that had selected him in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Following his release from the Bengals, Burton’s professional future remains uncertain. His combination of size, college production, and prior NFL experience could draw interest from other organizations seeking wide receiver depth. The 2025 season ultimately served as a transitional and difficult chapter in a career that began with significant promise as a third-round draft pick and national champion.