After a 6-7 season just a year ago, questions were raised about Missouri football moving forward. One thing that has Tiger fans excited about for this upcoming season is the wide receiver core. Despite losing Dominic Lovett, Missouri kept multiple talented receivers and secured some new additions. Here are some wide receivers to watch out for the Tigers in 2023:
Luther Burden III
Photo Cred: Mizzou Athletics
After a strong freshman campaign in 2022, Luther Burden will aim for a breakout season this fall. Burden appeared in all 13 games for the Tigers as a true freshman last season. The wide receiver caught five touchdown passes and finished with 45 total catches. Burden made an impact for Missouri as he earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors with 76 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns in the Tigers’ 17-14 win over Vanderbilt in October. The talented receiver also recorded a receiving touchdown in Missouri’s 29-27 victory over Arkansas in the regular season to clinch bowl eligibility.
There was a lot of hype around Burden before his first arrival on campus as a student. The East St. Louis native was the first five-star to commit to Missouri since Dorial Green-Beckham in 2012. In high school, the five-star receiver won MaxPreps Player of the Year and Rivals Illinois Player of the Year and was named the fifth top player in the nation by Rivals.com. Expect Burden to be an issue for SEC defenses this upcoming season.
Mookie Cooper
Photo Cred: SI
Mookie Cooper made strides as a redshirt sophomore last season. The wide receiver started in all 13 games and ended the season with 283 yards on five receptions. Cooper had an impact for the Tigers, putting up four catches for 54 yards in the Tigers’ close loss to national champions Georgia and 57 yards in Missouri’s loss to Wake Forest in the Gasparilla Bowl.
The wide receiver redshirted his freshman year at Ohio State before transferring to Missouri the following season. In his redshirt freshman season in 2021, Cooper put up 194 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown against South Carolina. Cooper will aim to continue to progress and play a larger role in the Tigers’ offense in the fall.
Mekhi Miller
Photo Cred: SI
Mehki Miller is another receiver looking to expand his role in his sophomore campaign. As a true freshman, Miller appeared in all 13 games and started in three. The wide receiver had some big performances in 2022, such as having a reception to seal the game against Arkansas late in the fourth quarter on fourth down. The Overland Park, Kansas native also caught two passes for 20 yards in the bowl game against Wake Forest.
Miller was a three-star recruit coming out of high school and the second-ranked recruit in Kansas by ESPN. In 2021, the Kansas Football Coaches Association Class 6A All-State team selected him. Miller will play a more crucial part in Missouri’s wide receiver core this upcoming season.
Theo Wease Jr.
Photo Cred: Sooner Wirer
The addition of Theo Wease Jr. was huge for Tigers head coach Eliah Drinkwitz and his staff heading into 2023. Wease was part of the Oklahoma Sooners before transferring to Missouri. The wide receiver finished last season with 378 yards and four touchdowns for the Sooners. Wease was a critical part of Oklahoma’s receiver core in 2022 as he recorded three receptions for 123 yards and a touchdown in the Sooners’ 51-48 loss to Texas Tech to end the regular season. The Allen, Texas native also caught four passes for 56 yards and had a touchdown in Oklahoma’s 52-42 win over Kansas in October.
In 2020, Wease started in all 11 games and tied for the team lead in receptions with 37. Wease also placed second on the team in receiving, as he had 530. Wease caught eight passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns in his freshman campaign. The wide receiver was a five-star recruit out of high school by Rivals and 247Sports. Wease earned Under Armour All-American honors and was ranked the No. 3 wideout in the nation by ESPN and Rivals. Wease will play a larger role in the Tigers’ wide receiver core this season.
