Theo Wease Jr., WR, Missouri
Size:
Height: 6030
Weight: 200
Arm: 32 ⅛”
Hand: 9 ⅝”
Accomplishments:
Five-star recruit
“Theo Wease Jr. is a nuanced receiver who focuses on the details of route-running to create space for himself."
Strengths:
Stem selling
Head usage
Releases
Reads body language
Zone/space finder
Concerns:
Explosiveness
Contact balance
Physicality through the route
Overall athleticism
Film Analysis:
After transferring to Missouri for the 2023 season, Theo Wease Jr. had his most productive season in college. He lined up inside and out for the Tigers, showcased intermediate zone-beating skills, and improved hands at every level of the defense.
Wease does a great job of using the space given to him, whether it’s closing the gap and selling vertical before a break or moving a defender with hesitation releases and head usage to get to where he wants to go. He uses multiple releases so a defender doesn’t key on one in particular and mixes them up throughout a game. As a zone-beater, he identifies coverages pre-snap and routinely “clears and turns” to become available for the quarterback. There was more emphasis from Wease on attacking the ball with his hands, which led to him being tied for the most contested catches among Power 5 wide receivers with 10. Transitioning after the catch was quick and downhill, and he showed a knack for toeing the sideline when needed.
He didn’t see a ton of press-man in 2023, but physicality in routes throws off his timing with a lack of nuanced hand usage to slap away hands and keep running. He was re-routed numerous times and taken away as an option with increased strength from defenders. Wease doesn’t have the explosiveness out of his stance to threaten defenders deep and force them to open their hips prematurely or to back off pressing defenders. With the ball in his hands, he lacks lateral agility to make tacklers miss and often goes down on first contact.
Overall, Wease is a big-bodied option with improved hands and the ability to win immediately as a possession receiver. Still, his lack of explosiveness, agility, play strength, and hand usage against press limits his effectiveness as an all-around receiver.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Developmental Traits
Written By: Daniel Harms
