Missouri football had one of the best years in program history in 2023. The school won the Cotton Bowl over Ohio State, and finished the season with 11 wins. The football program is trying to build on that success in 2024, and they have a dangerous weapon that can help them achieve that.
Dangerous Missouri football weapon identified as breakout star
Missouri football has an underrated wide receiver on their squad, that should have a heck of a year in 2024. That wideout is a veteran talent named Theo Wease Jr. Wease is playing with his final year of eligibility for the Tigers, and is poised to make a big splash this coming season.
The senior receiver has seen his production increase nearly every year he has played football. In 2023, he finished the campaign for Missouri football with 682 receiving yards and six touchdowns. His touchdown total was a career-high. He also recorded 49 receptions, another career-high. That was impressive enough, but he also did it in his first year in the program. Wease finished second on the team in receiving yards in 2023, and played a pivotal role in helping the Missouri football program win 11 games last year.
Wease previously played for Oklahoma before coming to Missouri, so he has a lot of experience playing power 5 defenses. In his final season at Oklahoma in 2022, Wease had 378 receiving yards and four touchdowns. He is due for a breakthrough season, and he will have one in his final year with college eligibility. This is his last and best chance to improve his NFL Draft stock, and a veteran like Wease surely doesn't take that for granted.
The biggest reason though why Wease will have a breakout year is because opposing defenses will be forced to pay attention to one of his teammates. Missouri arguably has the most productive wide receiver in the country returning from last season, in Luther Burden III. Burden finished the 2023 season leading the Tigers in receiving, with 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns. Opposing secondaries will put so much emphasis on stopping Burden, that Wease will get a chance to shine even brighter than last year. He will likely be placed in plenty of 1-on-1 situations where he will be able to take advantage of his defender. It would be no surprise to see Wease have a 1,000 yard receiving season in his final campaign.
Wease came into college as a highly touted recruit. He was a four star prospect coming out of both high school and the transfer portal, per 247 Sports. He was lauded for his athleticism and his length. His football IQ is also quite strong, as he keeps the ball away from opposing defenders, especially in the red zone. In his 247 recruiting profile, the receiver was projected to be a second day NFL Draft pick. While that could certainly be the case, the scouting report should also be bulletin board material for Wease. He certainly doesn't have to feel like he should settle for a second day draft selection.
Missouri's 2024 season outlook
Missouri football fans get their first chance to see Wease and the Tigers play on August 29, when the team takes on Murray State. The Tigers also have non conference games against Buffalo, Boston College and UMass this year. Those are all games that Missouri should win, and it would be a shock if they didn't. Wease has four golden opportunities in each of those games to post huge numbers.
The Tigers have a chance to get another 10 win season in the SEC. Their conference schedule includes winnable games against Vanderbilt and South Carolina, and an old foe is back on the schedule. For the first time in years, the Tigers play their old rival the Oklahoma Sooners. Oklahoma is joining the SEC with Texas, after playing in the Big 12 Conference for years. That game will certainly bring a lot of attention from NFL scouts, and Wease should keep that date circled on his calendar.
It surely is an exciting time to be a fan of the Tigers.
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