Missouri Football: Previewing the Tigers’ wide receivers and tight ends

Drew Lock is looking to be one of the best quarterbacks in the nation, this season. Supporting him on this quest is a talented group of pass-catchers that are experienced and looking to break out alongside their quarterback.

Receivers

Starters:

J’Mon Moore, the number one target for quarterback Drew Lock in 2016 will reprise the role this season. The senior from Missouri City, TX caught 62 passes last season for over 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns, all of which led the team.

At 6-3 and 205 lbs, he has good size for a receiver and should have a big year and remind folks of guys like Marcus Lucas. I predict he will make first team All-SEC this season.

Surprisingly, Dimetrios Mason was second on the team with 47 catches for 587 yards and three touchdowns. The Loganville, GA native is a sophomore this year and figures to have an even bigger role in the offense this season. By the end of the season, people everywhere around the SEC will know his name.

Missouri Tigers Football

Johnathon Johnson, Missouri’s speedy slot receiver, is one of the fastest players in the SEC if not the entire country. He averaged over 18 yards per catch last year and is a threat to break a big play every time he touches the ball. He only caught 24 passes last season but I think catches at least 40 balls this season.

Reserves:

Emmanuel Hall saw almost equal snaps on the outside as Mason did last season. He will be a crucial rotational player this season. He found the end zone twice last season on his 19 receptions. The Franklin, Tenn. native has good size at 6-3 and 205 pounds so he figures to get his chances this season, especially in the red zone.

Richaud Floyd – The Gulfport, Miss. native made just four catches for 94 yards last season. He may have some more snaps this season but I don’t see him being more than a rotational player this season unless Johnson gets hurt again.

Senior Dominic Collins only saw four snaps last season. With Keyon Dilosa being dismissed from the team, Collins will get a bigger chance this season. He appeared in just three games last season and made just one catch for 22 yards.

Nate Brown, Ray Wingo and Justin Smith are also in the mix for snaps. Brown was the leading receiver for the Tigers in 2015 but was hurt all of last season, Wingo had a couple big plays last year and Smith has size at 6-7 and should be a threat in the red zone but has only one reception as a Tiger so far.

Tight Ends

Starter:

Jason Reese was named the starter, despite just 123 snaps last season. He is a redshirt senior who had a limited role in the offense last season with just eight catches for 97 yards.

Reese is a good all around player who should split the snaps fairly evenly with Kendall Blanton. His experience should give him an advantage, and blocking could be the difference between him being the starter and being replaced.

Reserves:

Kendall Blanton got the most time of those that are returning last season with 280 snaps. The Blue Springs, MO native has a lot of talent but missed most of spring practice due to an injury. He should be able to challenge Reese for playing time and even for a starting job.

Next: Previewing Mizzou's quarterbacks

True freshman, Albert Okwuegbunam, has been a standout in camp so far and recorded three catches for 14 yards in Missouri’s Black and Gold Game. He is a redshirt freshman which should limit his time in the lineup but I imagine he will see the field in mop up duty against teams like Missouri State.