Adarius Bowman. Dwayne Jarrett. Limas Sweed. D'Juan Woods. Big play receivers have lit up Nebraska for a fair number of points this year. Take each of these receivers out of the games they played against Nebraska, and chances are we're undefeated. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way. It won't work that way against Missouri either, and they'll be bringing some excellent receivers to Lincoln.
Mizzou's top wide receiver Will "The Thrill" Franklin is third in the Big 12 and 16th nationally in yards per game at just under 83 yards per game. Franklin has 42 catches for 743 yards and 6 TD's. Franklin is a big play guy, averaging over 18 yards per catch.
The Tigers have one of the best tight end duos in the nation in Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman. Coffman has 40 catches for 410 yards and 5 TD. He is a possession type receiver, the guy who's going to catch the ball when it's thrown near him. He has caught at least five passes in each of the last three games, and is the leader among Big 12 tight ends in receptions, yards and touchdowns this far into the season.
Rucker, brother of former Nebraska defensive end Mike Rucker, has 32 catches for 284 yards and three TD's. He is third amongst Big 12 tight ends in receptions and yards. Rucker needs only four receptions and 177 yards to break Missouri's tight end record in those categories - keep that in mind for this game.
The other two starting receivers are Brad Ekwerekwu and Tommy Saunders. Ekwerekwu has 26 receptions for 286 yards and two TD's, while Saunders has 12 receptions for 114 yards and a single touchdown. Ekwereku has had four receptions in four games this season.
Look at the size of these guys:
Chase Coffman - a specimen at 6'6", 245, Sophomore
Martin Rucker also a specimen at 6'6", 255, redshirt Junior
Brad Ekwerekwu, a 6'4", 215, Senior.
Franklin - 6'2" 205, Junior
Tommy Saunders, 6'0, 210,Sophomore
Chase Daniel
Chase Daniel comes into this game ranked second in the Big 12 and seventh nationally in total offense. He has already broken Missouri's single season record for passing touchdowns with 19 (previous record was 18 set in 1969). He has 2,609 yards of total offense, 2,287 of it passing with 19 touchdowns and he has had seven 200 yard games.
We'll need to see this look Saturday
Bottom line
Missouri has plenty of receiving weapons in this game, and more than a capable quarterback in Daniel If Nebraska is to win this game against Mizzou, we're going to need to force Daniel into making mistakes like those Missouri made against Oklahoma, and we're going to have to do it with a banged up defense.