Missouri Tigers Spring Football Position Previews: Wide Receiver

The Missouri Tigers have been practicing for a week now and are about a month away from the Black & Gold scrimmage. Continuing with the theme of offense like we did with the quarterbacks and running backs, let’s take a look at the wide receivers.

The wide receivers positions is the biggest question that needs to be answered this spring and summer. The leading returning receiver is sophomore Nate Brown, who had a grand total of five catches last year. Redshirt sophomore J’Mon Moore and senior Wesley Leftwich are the only other returnees with catches.

Those three will have the first crack at being Maty Mauk’s primary targets this year as the latest depth chart reveled that Moore and Leftwich will start at the “X” and “Z” positions, or the outside spots. Brown is currently the starter at the “H”, or inside receiver.

Brown was one of the teams’ top recruits for the 2014 class and showed flashes as a freshman. He started the Citrus Bowl after Jimmie Hunt injured his shoulder, and recorded a big catch for 14 yards. Listed at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds Brown will be one Mauk’s biggest targets.

Oct 25, 2014; Columbia, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Nate Brown (2) warms up before the game against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Faurot Field. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Unfortunately for Brown, he has already has had a setback with a Grade One MCL strain in his left knee. While he is expected back within a couple weeks, given his expectations as the “go-to-guy” he’ll need all the reps in practice he can get.

Like Brown, Moore displayed his athleticism several times throughout the year, but didn’t have a lot of production to show for it. His only two catches on the year came in the Georgia game, and the 33 yards that came from those catches were more than a third of Mauk’s passing yards that game. He dropped a sure touchdown in the Toledo game and fumbled in the SEC Championship against Alabama.

Leftwich was a hero in the comeback at South Carolina where he dragged a defender for 23 yards to the one-yard line, but stone-handed a touchdown against Georgia. His three catches were second on the team behind Brown, and he is the oldest receiver on the roster.

The “X” and “Z” spots are backed up by a pair of walk-ons in Eric Laurent and Jake Brents, respectively. Laurent especially has been drawing praise from Mauk so far through spring football, but neither of the two have seen action in the receiver rotation thus far.

It’s expected that someone from the group of redshirt freshmen will step up and be a contributor. That group consists of DeSean Blair, Thomas Richard, and Keyon Dilosa. Blair and Dilosa are currently third at the “X” and “Z” respectively, but Richard is listed as Brown’s backup at the “H”.

Apr 19, 2014; Columbia, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers wide receiver Wesley Leftwich (18) is tackled by Missouri Tigers defensive back Duron Singleton (2) during the Black & Gold Game at Faurot Field. Mandatory Credit: Dak Dillon-USA TODAY Sports

Dilosa was one of Mauk’s favorite targets in summer camp last year and was probably on track to avoid a redshirt but unfortunately he ruptured his Achilles and ended that possibility. He was able to return for the bowl practices at the end of the year and has had no setbacks thus far.

It’s not unreasonable to think that due to the inexperience of this receiving core that the Tigers will have a run-first mentality. Heck, they have the line and stable of backs to have that as their first option. However there is no way that Missouri can repeat their division title for the third straight season without someone stepping up at receiver.

This similar to last year’s situation when L’Damian Washington, Marcus Lucas, and Dorial Green-Beckham all departed. That left Bud Sasser, Darius White, and Jimmie Hunt to step up and take over. Though they were all unproven, they were seniors who had much more production than Brown, Moore, and Leftwich.

The obvious pick to click is Brown, but I personally think one of the redshirt freshmen will step up and be a regular part of the rotation. My guess right now would be Dilosa as he is bigger (6-foot-3) and Mauk has praised him several times since he’s been on campus.

The talent and athleticism is there, all they need is to develop some consistency. Every rep counts from now until they kickoff the season September 5th against SEMO.

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