Luther Burden III stood alone against the bleachers.
The star senior wide receiver for the East St. Louis football team, Burden’s back was to the assembled mass waiting to beam his decision around the county Tuesday night.
“This has been the hardest decision of my life,” Burden said when he finally sat down at the table at midcourt of the Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club gymnasium.
He thanked his coaches, teammates and parents. When the moment arrived to pick one of the three hats that were laid before him, Burden put his hands first on the Georgia cap, then Alabama, before finally picking up the black and gold Missouri cap which he placed on his head and then flashed that megawatt smile.