The Missouri Tigers will play Illinois and the Fightin’ Zookers tomorrow. I can’t believe it’s finally college football season. We’ve been waiting for months to see Jeremy Maclin back on the field. And I know he’s anxious to play. “It means a great deal,” Maclin said. “Start off the season in your hometown, where you were born. More importantly, it’s just a good way to set the stage for this season.”

I think Jeremy is going to have a great game. Last year on opening day he score a touchdown, and I’ll look for Chase Daniel to hook up with Jeremy twice tomorrow. There’s no doubt defenses will be keying in on Maclin and trying to stop him. “We’re smart enough to find ways around that,” Maclin said. “Every (potential receiver) on our team can line up at every position on the field.” Illinois has a fast, SEC-like defense… but they won’t be able to stop a high powered Missouri offense.

I predict a 38-25 type of game.. Tigers win of course.

Jeremy Maclin and the Missouri Tigers take the field vs. Illinois on Saturday August 30th for the first game of the year. I know Maclin is just itching to get back on the field and build on that insane 2007 season he put up. Everyone’s talking Heisman for Jeremy, so we’re all anxious to see if he can come out of the gate firing! I’ll have a full game preview later this week.

I have two things I wanted to touch on today.

1. Jeremy Maclin was in a USA Today article this morning. It’s called “Sky’s the limit for explosive Missouri wideout Maclin,” and you can read it here.

2. Tuesday, August 26 is Jeremy’s 20th birthday! Happy Birthday and don’t do anything too crazy!

Generally teams look to a senior quarterback like Chase Daniel for leadership. But that may not be the case with the Missouri Tigers this year. Sophomore Jeremy Maclin wants that role.

“It’s not really about topping it, it’s becoming a better player. I can become a better player and not top what I did last year. That’s definitely my focus, is just becoming a more polished receiver, a better leader, just leading everybody and showing them the way.”

Jeremy is taking all the steps necessary to become a great team mate and a respected receiver in the NCAA. Even the coaches are on board. “The great thing about Jeremy is his work ethic is so good. His practice habits are better than they’ve ever been, he’s stronger than he’s ever been, he’s faster than he’s ever been, he’s more physical than he’s ever been. We expect him to have a better year this year than he had last year.”

I’m not one to hype players, but I think this reallycould be a record breaking year for Jeremy Maclin. He has all the physical tools to be outstanding and best of all he has a Heisman-calibur QB throwing him the ball.

USA Today wrote an article about the top 5 favorite Non-QB Heisman candidates. On the list were Knowshon Moreno, Chris Wells, Michael Crabtree, Ian Johnson, and your very own Jeremy Maclin. Here’s what they had to say about him:

Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri: Could be hurt by having a Heisman Trophy favorite on his team in Chase Daniel. Maclin rushed for 375 yards and 4 TDs, caught 80 passes for 1,055 ards and 9 TDs and returned three kicks for 3 TDs. Desmond Howard in 1991 showed what a combination back can do for your Heisman chances. The game against Texas on Oct. 18 will say a lot for his and Daniel’s chances.

I’m not sure having Chase Daniel will hurt Maclins chances at becoming a Heisman winner. Reggie Bush won a Heisman with Matt Leinart on the team. What Maclin needs to do to secure a spot in college football history is make big plays in big games. He needs to have that “Heisman moment”.

Stu Durando of the St. Louis Today newspaper wrote an awesome article about Jeremy Maclin and his progress this offseason. The Missouri Tigers just started practice a few days ago, and already Maclin is wowing the coaching staff. Check out what Stu said:

We already had been told that receiver Jeremy Maclin is bigger, faster and stronger than last season, and now it appears, also quicker, according to coach Gary Pinkel.

We had seen what he can do with raw talent: 80 catches, 375 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns and a ridiculous amount of versatility in his first collegiate season.

Now we’re told that Maclin has added another weapon to his repertoire. He has discovered how to practice efficiently. And that’s no joke. That’s how a good player gets better, and Pinkel said Maclin has figured it out.

“His practice habits are completely different,” Pinkel said Tuesday morning. “Now you see him and he has good habits. When you have that, then fundamentally you get better. His one-on-one routes will be better along with his awareness and knowing the defenses and adjustments and the complexities of what we do on offense.”

Pinkel has seen the evidence in only two days of practice. He knows that opposing defenses are going to do everything imaginable to stop Maclin and Chase Daniel from destroying their Saturdays.

Pinkel seems to welcome that approach. In the Cotton Bowl, Arkansas did its best to slow Maclin, and he was held to three catches for 32 yards but the Tigers’ running game exploded.

“We see everything there is (from defenses) and work against just about everything there is,” Pinkel said. “What we do with Maclin is move him. He’s all over the field. We can put Chase Coffman to further side receiver or tight in the slot and the same with Jeremy Maclin. So, it’s very difficult unless you want to line up in just man and cover one guy or double because sometimes he’s at running back. He’s all over the place.”

If this doesn’t scare the crap out of opposing defenses then I don’t know what will. I originally thought Michael Crabtree would be the best WR in the Big 12, but after reading this… I’m thinking Jeremy may win that award.