What will Missouri's wide receiver room look like in 2024?

Missouri football enters the 2024 season with one of the best wide receiver rooms in the country. Returning all three starters, along with the same quarterback from last year, they'll have outstanding offensive chemistry. The group will be led by a preseason All-American and the favorite to win the Biletnikoff Award, which is given to the best receiver in college football.

With the likes of Luther Burden, Theo Wease, and Mookie Cooper, Missouri is not only set at the wide receiver position for this season but also well-prepared for the future. Mekhi Miller, Marquis Johnson, and Joshua Manning are poised to take reps with the second team, while two talented freshmen, James Madison and Courtney Crutchfield, are waiting in the wings. The depth and talent in this receiver room will help ensure that the Tigers will continue to thrive at the position even after the current starters move on next offseason.

It’s safe to say that Missouri is well-positioned at receiver this season, with plenty of room for growth in the future. These young talents will have the valuable opportunity to learn from a pair of potential NFL receivers who bring plenty of college football experience. Everyone knows the starters, so let’s take a closer look at some of the younger receiving options and see who could make significant strides for the future.

Marquis Johnson

Marquis Johnson is entering his sophomore season poised to explode in the near future. As one of the fastest players on the team, he's a constant threat to beat defenses down the field. Originally from Dickinson, Texas, Johnson was a three-star receiver coming out of high school. Last season, he appeared in all 13 games for the Tigers, serving as the primary kick returner and accumulating over 300 receiving yards as a true freshman. Perhaps the most promising aspect of his game is his deep ball threat; Johnson averaged nearly 30 yards per reception last season. With more time to develop, he could become an impact player in the near future.

Joshua Manning

Joshua Manning is a name you don’t want to forget—I promise. His future is as bright as any player on the roster, and the praise for this young receiver out of fall camp has been constant. Manning is also heading into his sophomore year, after seeing action in 12 games last season, primarily on special teams. He's a Missouri native from Lee’s Summit High School; Manning was a four-star recruit when he committed to the Tigers. When asked about Manning, Brady Cook said, "those 50/50 balls are more 80/20 with him." It will be exciting to watch Manning's development throughout the season, especially as we look ahead to 2025 and beyond.

Mekhi Miller

Last week, the media had a chance to speak with Mekhi Miller, and one reporter asked him about his unwavering commitment to Missouri in the era of the transfer portal. "They just understand what it means to be a part of this brotherhood. That’s really something that’s been harped on us this whole offseason—just a brotherhood and becoming close to each other," Miller said. "And once you build that bond, it’s kind of hard to leave your closest friends." He's seen more offensive snaps than anyone outside the top three, and will surely be a factor this season. As Miller enters his junior season with two years of eligibility remaining, you can expect him to continue making a significant impact on the program.

Missouri also added two highly talented freshman receivers in Courtney Crutchfield and James Madison. Both are expected to be key pieces for the future and will have an excellent opportunity to learn from seasoned veterans this year. They'll look to players like Theo Wease, Luther Burden, and Mookie Cooper to guide them on how to succeed at a high level.

The future is extremely bright for Missouri's wide receiver room. The team will lean on the leadership of the 2024 receiving corps while the younger players use this season to develop and help elevate the program to its new standards for the future. Missouri's offensive should be a treat to watch, with kickoff now just one week away.