Treylon Burks was basically a myth in a football jersey during his time at Arkansas. You’ve probably seen the highlights of him snagging a pass with one hand while a defender hangs off his back, but honestly, just looking at a box score doesn't tell the full story of how he dominated the SEC. People talk about him now in the context of the NFL, but his three-year run in Fayetteville was something else entirely.
He was a unicorn.
When we talk about treylon burks college stats, most people jump straight to his 1,104-yard junior season. It makes sense. That was the year he became a household name. But if you really want to understand why he was a first-round lock, you have to look at the weird, versatile ways Sam Pittman and Kendal Briles used him. He wasn't just a wide receiver; he was a 225-pound problem that coaches had to solve every Saturday.
The Freshman Flash: 2019
Most true freshmen in the SEC spend their first year trying to figure out which way is north. Burks? He was busy being an All-SEC Second Team return specialist. He played in 11 games and started nine of them. That’s rare.
In 2019, his receiving numbers were modest but efficient: 29 catches for 475 yards. No touchdowns. Zero. It’s the weirdest stat of his career because he was clearly the most dangerous player on the field half the time. He averaged 16.4 yards per catch right out of the gate. He was also returning punts and kicks, racking up over 200 return yards. You could see the potential, even if the scoreboard didn't always reflect it yet.
The Sophomore Leap in 2020
Then 2020 happened. Everything changed. Despite the season being a mess because of the pandemic and Arkansas playing a brutal all-SEC schedule, Burks exploded.
He played nine games and caught 51 passes for 820 yards. More importantly, he finally found the end zone, scoring seven touchdowns. He averaged 91.1 yards per game, which was third in the SEC. Think about that for a second. In a conference with Devonta Smith and Kadarius Toney, Burks was right there at the top.
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One game that stands out is the Ole Miss matchup. He caught 11 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown while playing with a banged-up knee. He also rushed for 46 yards in that game. He was one of only two players in the FBS that year to have 800+ receiving yards and 70+ rushing yards. The guy was a literal Swiss Army knife.
The 2021 Masterclass: Putting Up the Numbers
If his sophomore year was the warning shot, 2021 was the full-scale invasion. This is where the treylon burks college stats get truly ridiculous.
He became only the fourth player in Arkansas history to cross the 1,000-yard mark in a single season. He finished with 66 catches for 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also added 112 yards on the ground and another rushing score.
Breaking Down the 2021 Big Games
- Vs. Texas A&M: 6 catches, 167 yards, 1 TD (including an 85-yard house call).
- At Alabama: 8 catches, 179 yards, 2 TDs. Doing this against Nick Saban’s defense is usually reserved for future Pro Bowlers.
- At Ole Miss: 7 catches, 136 yards, 1 TD.
- Vs. Missouri: 7 catches, 129 yards. This was his sixth 100-yard game of the season, a school record.
The Alabama game is the one people still talk about. He was essentially uncoverable. He was catching deep balls over Kool-Aid McKinstry and out-muscling safeties in the red zone. He finished his junior year with a PFF offensive grade of 85.8. That isn't just "good for college"—that's elite.
Why the Versatility Matters
You can't just look at the receiving yards. Arkansas used him in the backfield constantly. Over his career, he had 38 carries for 222 yards. They’d put him in motion, snap it to him directly, or have him run jet sweeps.
He finished his career with 2,399 receiving yards, which ranks 6th all-time at Arkansas. If he had stayed for a fourth year, he would have easily shattered Jarius Wright’s school record of 2,934 yards. But he didn't need a fourth year. He had already proven he was the most physical receiver in the country.
Beyond the Box Score: Advanced Metrics
If you’re into the deeper numbers, Burks was a YAC (yards after catch) monster. In 2021, he averaged nearly 10 yards after the catch per reception in several games. He wasn't just catching 10-yard curls; he was catching 5-yard slants and turning them into 40-yard sprints.
His hands were also legendary. He famously wore 4XL or 5XL gloves because his hands were too big for standard sizes. That size allowed him to pluck balls out of the air that most receivers couldn't even reach.
Career Summary
To wrap it up, here is what the three-year stretch looked like:
- Total Games: 31
- Receptions: 146
- Receiving Yards: 2,399
- Receiving Touchdowns: 18
- Rushing Yards: 222
- Rushing Touchdowns: 1
- All-Purpose Yards: 2,751 (including returns)
What This Means for Evaluators
The big takeaway from the treylon burks college stats is the consistency of his big-play ability. He averaged 16.4 yards per catch over his entire career. He didn't just pad his stats against cupcakes either; he showed up in the biggest games against the toughest competition in the SEC.
If you're tracking his career or looking at his historical impact on the Arkansas program, the next step is to look at his Target Share. In 2021, he accounted for nearly 40% of Arkansas's passing offense. When everyone in the stadium knew the ball was going to #16, he still found a way to get open.
To get a full picture of his impact, you should compare his 2021 production against other first-round receivers from that class like Garrett Wilson or Drake London. You'll find that while his route tree was simpler, his efficiency and "big play" rate were right at the top of the list. Checking out his 2021 game tape against Alabama is the best way to see these stats come to life.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts:
- Contextualize the 2020 Season: Remember that his 820 yards in 2020 came in just 9 games against an all-SEC schedule. His pace would have been well over 1,100 yards in a normal season.
- Watch the Rushing Utility: Don't ignore those 222 rushing yards. They explain why his NFL draft profile emphasized "positionless" playmaking.
- Compare the Records: Keep an eye on Andrew Armstrong or future Hogs receivers. Burks's six 100-yard games in a single season is the current gold standard in Fayetteville.
Check out the SEC's official archives or the Arkansas Razorbacks' media guide for the play-by-play logs of the 2021 season to see just how many of his yards came in high-leverage situations.