Texas A&M (4-1, 2-0 SEC) will return to Kyle Field for the fourth time this season. On Saturday afternoon, the Aggies will host the undefeated Missouri Tigers (4-0, 1-0 SEC) as both teams look to earn their first significant wins this season.
Missouri’s roster, filled with veteran talent at nearly every position, is anchored by a passing game led by senior quarterback Brady Cook and star wide receiver Luther Burden. The two have connected for all four passing touchdowns this season.
Coming off a bye week, the Tigers should be well-rested and ready to face an Aggie team playing with confidence after defeating Arkansas 21-17, but Texas A&M’s inconsistent offensive attack is still an issue, as redshirt freshman quarterback Marcel Reed has dealt with accuracy issues.
However, if the Aggies can control the line of scrimmage, run the ball effectively, and Reed hit his targets, this should be a close contest that could go either way. Here are three Missouri players to watch on Saturday ahead of the game.
WR Theo Wease Jr.
While many of you likely thought I would list wide receiver Luther Burden, remember that Elko and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman will likely bracket the junior, leaving Theo Wease Jr. as another target for QB Brady Cook to gain chunk yards in the passing game.
In his final season, Wease leads the Tigers with 287 receiving yards, including 149 yards in the win against Buffalo in early September. Watch for Wease and wide receiver Mookie Cooper to be heavily targeted if Burden fails to get going.
DT Chris McClellan
Missouri’s safety group leads the team in most statistical categories on defense. Still, junior defensive tackle Chris McClellan, who stands at 6-3 and 320 pounds, recorded seven tackles in the Tigers’ win over Vanderbilt. He possesses the strength and functional athleticism to stop the run and potentially get in the backfield against the Aggie interior; however, who he will line up against matters, as sophomore left guard Chase Bisontis has been playing his best football lately.
QB Brady Cook
This is an easy one. Cook’s performance will likely determine the game, as Texas A&M’s run defense looks to limit the Tigers’ running game early. In the first four games, Cook has been efficient, completing 68% of his passes while facing below-average secondaries, but still very impressive.
While Cook isn’t the athlete that Arkansas QB Taylen Green is, he has run for four touchdowns this season. This means Texas A&M’s defense needs to apply pressure from every angle, similar to the Arkansas defensive game plan. Preventing Cook from getting into a passing rhythm is key, but this young man is tough and tested, so it will take one heck of an effort to get him off-kilter
Texas A&M will host Missouri on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 11:00 a.m. CT. The game will air on ABC and will be available for streaming on ESPN+.
