Missouri football’s 2024 regular season concluded on Nov. 30 when the Tigers defeated Arkansas. The win marked Missouri’s ninth of the year and occurred on senior day.

Prior to kickoff, senior athletes were honored when they walked across the field with flowers as their names were announced. The celebration extended to after the game when seniors got to take and keep a rock from the hill “M” on Faurot Field.

Four players who participated in the senior day activities were Theo Wease Jr., Corey Flagg Jr., Tre’Vez Johnson and Joe Moore. This piece is the second of three articles dedicated to the Tigers’ seniors.

Theo Wease Jr. (Wide Receiver)

The Texas native came out of high school as a four-star prospect and was rated as the No. 3 wideout in the country by ESPN. These accolades earned Wease offers to play football for 39 universities, including programs like Alabama and LSU.

From the many offers, Wease elected to take his talents to the University of Oklahoma.

In his time there, Wease racked up 1,044 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. In 2020, he helped the Sooners defeat the No. 7 Florida Gators in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

After four years at Oklahoma, Wease transferred to Missouri in 2023.

During his two seasons at Missouri, Wease has been a part of some incredible moments. These included a career high six-touchdown season in 2023, scoring two touchdowns against his old team in Oklahoma and finding himself back at the Cotton Bowl three seasons after his first win there.

This season Wease had three of Missouri’s 12 receiving touchdowns. He also leds the team in receiving yards with 809.

Beyond his ability to make plays, Wease carries himself with an air of confidence and displays an effortless swagger. The No. 1 that he rocks on the back of his jersey is perfect for a player that’s truly one of a kind.

Corey Flagg Jr. (Linebacker)

Like Wease, Flagg grew up in Texas. He left his hometown of Houston and spent all four years of his undergraduate collegiate career at the University of Miami. 

He broke out in 2021 when he started in all 12 games and logged a team-best 60 total tackles.

Flagg’s total tackles dropped to 56 and 48 during the next two seasons. Nevertheless, the linebacker was still effective, totaling 10.5 tackles for loss in 2022 plus a forced fumble in 2023.

With the conclusion of the 2023 season, Flagg transferred to MU as the No. 10 linebacker in the portal. His move to Missouri came when the team was searching for ways to replace NFL-bound defenders like linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper.

Flagg’s performance during the 2024 season showed he filled Missouri’s defensive gaps efficiently. After 12 games, he led the Tigers in total tackles with 76, which is 16 more than his previous career-high. 

Missouri’s defense played at a very high level in 2024, allowing 20.08 points per game. Flagg contributed to the Tigers’ defensive success, making an impact in his only season with the program. 

Tre’Vez Johnson (Safety) 

Hailing from Jacksonville, Florida, Johnson did not go far when he committed to play football in college. The three-star defender attended the University of Florida where he played for three seasons. 

He progressed every year as a Gator, making 15 total tackles in 2020, 23 in 2021 and 26 in 2022. Searching for a bigger role, Johnson transferred to Missouri in 2023.

In his first year as a Tiger he recorded 43 total tackles, 17 more than his previous career-best. This season Johnson sits at 20 total tackles, but the safety has made his presence felt on a handful of big plays.

One big play came in the Week 3 matchup against the then-ranked No. 24 Boston College Eagles. With Missouri trailing 14-6, Johnson picked off the Boston College quarterback. This interception led to the Tigers scoring their first touchdown of the day, springboarding the team to a 27-21 win. 

Another key moment came when he recovered a fumble against Oklahoma in Week 11, allowing Missouri to extend their lead in the second half with a touchdown. 

Overall, Johnson had some impactful contributions to Missouri’s defense. His two takeaways came in clutch to help Missouri win games this year.

Joe Moore (Defensive End)

Moore’s football skills were evident from the beginning, as he thrived in high school. He played at Cardinal Ritter College Prep in St. Louis, becoming a consensus top-10 overall prospect in the state of Missouri. 

Moore left Missouri to play football for Arizona State University, logging two seasons as a Sun Devil. He exploded onto the scene in his second season, going from six tackles in 2021 to 24 in 2022.

Despite his development, Moore decided to leave ASU and return to his birth state. He is currently in his second season as a Tiger.

Last year at Missouri, Moore recorded his first career fumble at the Cotton Bowl. This helped the Tigers seal a 14-3 victory over Ohio State. Moore finished that season with 13 total tackles and a sack.

The 2024 season was uneventful for the graduate student, as he suffered an unspecified injury in Week 6 that ended his season. Despite this setback, Moore has had a solid college career.

These four transfers have left their mark on Missouri football and now they are getting ready to leave the team.

The plays they have made have contributed to Missouri’s memorable 2024 season, highlighted by nine wins and an undefeated record at home.

Edited by Dylan Heinrich | dheinrich@themaneater.com

Copyedited by Alana Sheba and Hannah Taylor | htaylor@themaneater.com 

Edited by Emily Skidmore | eskidmore@themaneater.com