What Mizzou football WRs said about each other, new offensive system during camp

Luther Burden III feels like Missouri football’s wide receivers are more of a team this season.

Mookie Cooper, who was called “Mr. Consistency” by Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz, feels like he’s seen more maturity out of Burden. He’s also been impressed with Mehki Miller’s freshman-to-sophomore progression.

Good thing … Miller said he’s been looking up to Cooper over the offseason, impressed with how he “takes care of business.”

And then there’s the headline newcomer — Oklahoma transfer Theo Wease Jr., according to Cooper, has some “wiggle” for a guy with a 6-foot-2, 192-pound frame.

Meanwhile, forgive Wease for ranking Burden as the second-best receiver he’s ever played with — he did spend a season as a Sooner with CeeDee Lamb.

All of Missouri’s pass catchers are chock-full of compliments for one another during this training camp. There’s a different feel in the room this year, they say.

Expectations for the Tigers’ pass-catchers have steadily grown over the offseason and into training camp. Every which way you look there’s potential and promise, versatility and variety.

The questions then stand: What will it look like when it's game time? Will they produce in line with their own high standards?

The Tigers’ most promising offensive threats have played defense when discussing what new offensive coordinator Kirby Moore’s scheme might do for them come Game 1 against South Dakota on Aug. 31 at Memorial Stadium and beyond.

Cooper kept coy, offering what amounted to a wait-and-see answer when asked about it.

One clue that Cooper did offer: “I’m out there more.”

Another: “Y’all just gonna see. More explosive. More plays.”

Wease wouldn’t tip the Tigers’ hand, either, but he did give a glimpse into what he sees as the offense’s most novel characteristic.

Funny enough, it’s what those across from Wease don’t see.

“Just how everything looks the same and we run so many different things but it all looks the same,” he said. “And just talking to some of the defensive guys, like some of the corners, they would think they know what's coming, you know, everything looks the same, and then it'd be something totally different.”

Wease did say that he’s seeing more action than while he was at Oklahoma. He’s happy that he’s being allowed to run every route on the tree.

What else should be expected is anyone’s guess.

Although mum’s the word on the system, the players have consistently lauded the talents of their teammates and how deep the unit runs.

True freshmen Daniel Blood and Marquis Johnson have looked sharp, as has Kansas City product Joshua Manning.

On Wednesday evening, the Tigers trotted over to Stankowski Field on the University of Missouri campus to offer the newly arrived students a chance to catch a look at this year’s team on the recreational sports field.

Although they didn’t push too hard on questionable turf, Johnson hauled in an impressive over-the-shoulder grab on a pass from Jake Garcia on a corner route, albeit up against no defense. Cooper said this year's receiver group is the most talented room we’ve had since he's been at Missouri.

“As far as depth, young guys — we’ve got a lot of good young guys," Cooper said. "It's going well this camp, probably gonna be ready to make the same impact or more this year.”

The problem for the newbies — they’re competing against the experience and talents of Burden, Wease and Cooper, who have frequently been the three starting wideouts when the Tigers’ first team takes the field during the periods of practice open to the media.

And if you listen to what that trio has been saying, they aren’t letting up.

“I feel like everybody bought in, everybody is more dialed in this year,” Burden said. “Everybody's locked in on the goals this year and ready to go get it.”

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: What Mizzou football WRs said about each other, new system during camp