Theo Wease Jr. Rediscovers Love for Football as Valued Mentor for Missouri

The Texas native will return to AT&T Stadium to play for Missouri in the Cotton Bowl after his most enjoyable and productive year in college football.

Friday's Cotton Bowl will be a homecoming for Missouri wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. The Allen, Texas, native has played in the ginormous stadium for multiple high school playoff games as well as the 2020 Cotton Bowl vs Florida.

This year's Cotton Bowl against Ohio State, however, might just be the most rewarding trip for Wease to AT&T Stadium. After transferring from Oklahoma following the 2022 season, Wease has found a new role in Missouri as an offensive mentor and has also rediscovered his passion for the game.

The wide receiver that is usually dominating defenses in Arlington is Dallas Cowboy Ceedee Lamb. But this weekend, Lamb is excited for his former Oklahoma teammate to have the opportunity to do the same.

When Wease arrived to Oklahoma in 2019 as a five-star recruit, Lamb was preparing for his junior year for the Sooners where he ended up recording 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns that pushed him to being selected with the 17th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. 

Lamb saw the freshman Wease and worked to teach him everything. Not only the fundamentals of wide receiver play that led to Lamb's success but the mentality required to be a star on one of college football's biggest programs. Wease was a sponge to the advice of one of the sports' biggest stars.

Sep 7, 2019; Norman, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Theo Wease (10) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the second half against the South Dakota Coyotes at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

After his redshirt junior season in 2022, Wease decided to enter the transfer portal in hopes to find a more active role on a team. In four years at Oklahoma, Wease had limited opportunities that led to him only having 64 receptions and 1,044 yards over four seasons.

By transferring to Missouri for the 2023, Wease was able to find a consistent role in the Tigers' explosive offense. The 2023 regular season was by far the most productive in his career, having career-highs in receptions (45), yards (639) and touchdowns (6).

But Wease has also found a role of equal importance as a leader for the rest of Missouri offense. His surplus of experience has made what Missouri offensive coordinator Kirby Moore called a tremendous impact for the Tigers.

“The experience that he had and the success he had early and the work that he’s put into it on a consistent basis - he really treats it like a true pro and that carried over within our whole offense," Moore said.

Wease's maturity and work ethic speaks for itself, allowing the rest of the team to learn by the example he sets.

"He's kinda the alpha male in that (wide receiver) room as far as just respectability," Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz told Mizzou Radio. "He's been through the battles before he has a work ethic to him a production value to him he shows up, does the little things right... That maturity level has just kinda been reflected and we've needed it."

Wease has especially built a strong relationship with Missouri star receiver Luther Burden III, who he met when the St. Louis native went on an official visit to Oklahoma. Wease calls his relationship with Burden nearly identical to the one he had with Lamb in Oklahoma. 

"I just wanted to take Lou (Luther) under my wings because I see how special he can be and what he can do. I’ve just been trying to make him take that next step," Wease said.

The relationship between the two receivers has been mutually beneficial as the two both challenge each other to constantly improve.

“We’ve both been making each other better since I’ve been here," Wease said. "As a receiver, we all think we’re the best so seeing Lou doing what he’s doing it just gives me that extra push like I gotta do something spectacular”

The mentorship of Wease helped Burden become one of college football's most dynamic playmakers in 2023, grabbing 83 receptions for 1,197 yards and eight touchdowns. 

"I think Theo maturity's in that room and kind of showing him (Burden) how to be low drama off the field, and maturing off the field help impacts your game on the field," Drinkwitz said to Mizzou Radio. "The way you eat, the way you sleep, the way you train is going to be reflective in how you can play and perform. He's really changed his body, he's become more explosive of an athlete"

Missouri Tigers wide receiver Luther Burden III (3) celebrates with Missouri Tigers wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. (1) after Wease's touchdown in the second quarter. Oct. 14, 2023 — Matt Stone/Louisville Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Finding a role as a productive receiver and a leader has made Wease's fifth year in college football his most enjoyable. The team opened Wease onto their team with open arms, allowing him to quickly gel with the closely connected team.

“They brought me in, they showed me the ropes and we just stuck together, and I really give all the credit to the team," Wease said. "I am my own person of course, I am my own leader of course and I brought something different to the team, but it was the brotherhood that really made everything fall into place.”

The timeline of Wease's trips to AT&T Stadium outline the most defining eras of his football career. The first being high school playoff games where Wease was a five-star recruit with a vibrant personality. To the 2020 Cotton Bowl against Florida where he scored a 36-yard touchdown on a pass from Spencer Rattler.

Now Wease returns to the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium with a rekindled appreciation for football and a defined role on the Missouri offense.

"(It) made me find my passion for the game again," Wease said of his first season with Missouri. "They made me find my love for the game again."

Wease will be faced with the decision this offseason on whether or not to utilize his final year of eligibility of Missouri for the 2024 season. No matter his decision, Missouri has helped Wease evolve into his most productive form as a player, teammate and leader.