Mizzou’s leader in receptions this year has an NFL future ahead
After seeing his role in Oklahoma’s offense greatly diminished in 2022, Theo Wease went searching for a place to rejuvenate his career in the transfer portal.
That’s exactly what he found in Columbia, forming a dynamic 1-2 punch with Luther Burden and setting himself up to hear his name called in the NFL Draft this April.
Get to know: Theo Wease Jr.
Missouri wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. (1) shoves down Arkansas defensive back Jaheim Singletary (15) in the fourth quarter of a game against Arkansas on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, at Faurot Field. (CAL TOBIAS/ROCK M NATION)
Hometown: Allen, Texas
Position: Wide receiver
Height and Weight: 6-foot-3, 200 lbs
Accolades: East-West Shrine Bowl participant
The Highlights
Wease entered college at Oklahoma as one of the best players in his class, widely considered a five-star recruit and being named an Under Armour All-American as the third-ranked wideout in the nation. He lived up to that billing in his sophomore season, leading the Sooners in 2022 with 37 receptions for 530 yards on a team that also featured NFL players CeeDee Lamb and Marvin Mims.
But an injury in 2021 and his underutilization in 2022 was Eli Drinkwitz’s good fortune, bringing him to Mizzou. Wease immediately thrived in Kirby Moore’s offense, setting new career highs with 49 receptions, 682 yards and six touchdowns in 2023. His 2024 season was even better, recording 60 receptions and leading the team with 884 receiving yards while finding the end zone four times. He also showed a penchant for making some big-time plays during his two years in Columbia and will be remembered fondly by Tigers fans for them.
Clutch moments
- 2023 vs. Kansas State, game tied at 27, 3rd-and-2 on the MU 48-yard line with 13 seconds left in regulation. Mizzou needs the first. Wease gets open and makes the catch at the MU 39 to give the Tigers a new set of downs. Mizzou takes a delay of game penalty but Harrison Mevis hits a 61-yard field goal to win the game as time expires.
- 2023 vs. Florida, Tigers leading 23-21, 2nd-and-6 on the MU 23-yard line with 13:30 left. Mizzou’s New Year’s Six bowl hopes are in doubt. Wease takes a play action pass at the line of scrimmage and evades defenders for a 77-yard touchdown. The Tigers end up winning on a Harrison Mevis field goal.
- 2024 vs. Auburn, visitors lead 17-14, 3rd-and-10 on the MU 25-yard line with 1:17 remaining. Mizzou needs the first to keep the drive alive or the game will likely go to overtime with a Blake Craig kick. Wease converts the first down and Mizzou gets the game-winning touchdown three players later.
- 2024 vs. Oklahoma, Sooners lead 23-16, 2nd-and-goal on the MU 10-yard line with 1:09 left in regulation. Tigers need a touchdown to tie it. Drew Pyne throws up a jump ball to Wease and he somehow makes the contested catch in the corner of the end zone, getting his toe down inches away from being out-of-bounds for the touchdown. Mizzou scores the game-winning touchdown one drive later on Zion Young’s scoop-and-score.
The Scout
- Tracks ball well, strong timing on high points
- Good body control on jumps, has strength and awareness to create space and control his landing near the boundary
- Showcases explosion after the catch and has the ability to rack up extra yards
- Average straight-line speed and explosiveness
- Minimal ability to create separation on vertical routes
- Limited physical in his routes, can sometimes be pushed off of them
Wease frequently lined up on the outside for Mizzou and built his success on contested deep balls and the ability to add yards after the catch closer to the line of scrimmage. He’s not going to impress with his straight-line speed or athleticism and doesn’t create tons of separation from defensive backs, but he’s able to out-position or out-jump them. Wease times his high pointing on jump balls well and uses his height and awareness to come down with the catch more often than not.
He is also able to make the most of the space he’s given after the catch, turning up field and quickly finding an extra gear after the catch to gain some extra yardage. But some of the traits that made Wease so successful in college will be challenged far more in the NFL. His average speed, athleticism and physicality will make creating separation extremely difficult. His contested catch ability will also likely be diminished on Sundays, facing a higher caliber of defensive back. Despite this, Wease still has enough athleticism and strong possession skills to make him a useful and effective role player in the NFL.
The Fit
Wease will be served best by a team which fits his role to his strengths and uses play calling to get him open, where he can make better use of his after the catch athleticism. He will also likely look for a team which has a veteran quarterback able to fit the ball into a tight window and increase his odds of making the contested catches he’s known for.
Wease’s transition to the NFL would be eased by a veteran quarterback known for their leadership and accuracy. On the other side, NFL teams with established top receiver options that are a bit thin on depth in the receiver room are likelier to view Wease as a good fit. The Cincinnati Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions are all teams fitting these descriptions that could provide a solid match between team and player for Wease.
Prediction
Wease can certainly serve as a valuable role player and depth piece on an NFL roster but is unlikely to be a top two receiver like he was in college. And while he has the potential to fill into the a depth role nicely in the NFL, Wease may need some time to adjust his game to fit the NFL.
Wease appears likely to hear his name called on day three of the draft as a 5th to 7th round selection. This would make him the first Mizzou wide receiver to be drafted, along with Luther Burden, since J’Mon Moore in 2018.