How a true freshman became Mizzou’s top receiver and Drew Lock’s new favorite target

As Jalen Knox went through Missouri’s game plan against South Carolina in his hotel room the night before the game, a realization hit him.

Veteran receivers Nate Brown and Emanuel Hall were unable to make the trip because of groin injuries, which made the true freshman Missouri’s top wideout against the Gamecocks.

“I’m like, ‘Man I have to do this,” Knox said. “I’m that guy now.”

When Knox committed to Missouri in June 2017, he knew he would be joining a program in dire need of receiver help. J’Mon Moore was set to graduate after the season, and some recruiting misses greatly affected the position’s depth.

But while Knox has produced in the two-game stint he’s had as the top receiver, Hall and Brown’s injuries have shown that the Arlington, Texas, resident can’t do it all on his own.

Hall and Brown’s absence has been greatly felt by a team currently riding a three-game losing streak. Knox has become Drew Lock’s only reliable receiver and Missouri has had to lean more on the run game and tight ends to move down the field.

“Before, I was following whatever Nate and (Emanuel) did,” Knox said. “I tried to make my decisions based on what (they) told me. Now that I don’t have them I have to take on that leader role.”

Hall will miss Saturday’s game against Memphis — his father died on Thursday. Coach Barry Odom said Brown is “moving in the right direction.”

Knox doesn’t mind the heavy workload six games into his career since he’s used to it. At Timberview High School in Texas, he split time between quarterback, running back, wideout and slot receiver under coach James Brown.

“For us, it was all about trying to get a lot of touches over the course of a game because he was so explosive,” Brown said.

Knox had his pick of schools, and he also had his pick of positions. Rated a four-star recruit out of high school by ESPN, Knox was sought after by Houston, Baylor, TCU, Wisconsin and Texas Tech, with each wanting him for a different position. Some wanted him in the backfield while others suggested wide receiver or the slot.

Ultimately, he chose Missouri because of the team’s offensive system and the opportunity to play early, and with Lock.

“Jalen’s been playing his butt off,” Lock said. “He’s had to grow up really fast on some big stages.”

Knox had a breakout game in Missouri’s last-second win at Purdue: five catches for 110 yards and a touchdown. In his first game as Missouri’s top wideout, he had a 44-yard catch early against South Carolina that narrowly missed being a touchdown.

Missouri scored the following play against South Carolina, but Knox struggled the rest of the game with drops.

The Tigers were at South Carolina’s three-yard line late in the first half and Knox failed to catch two passes in the end zone. Instead, Missouri settled for a field goal.

Knox would miss another in the third quarter when heavy rains were a factor and kicker Tucker McCann missed a 25-yard field goal at the end of the drive.

“After I had a couple of drops, I couldn’t get it of my mind,” Knox said. “Everything that was around me got affected. I just couldn’t get out of that mode.”

In Saturday’s loss at Alabama, Knox scored Missouri’s lone touchdown on a 20-yard route that he and Lock improvised after the offensive line gave the quarterback plenty of time to throw.

Knox snagged a pass in the corner of the end zone and cut the score to 13-10, the closest a team has played the Tide in an opening quarter this year. Missouri ended up losing the game 39-10.

“His ability to understand leverage and his ability to get off the line and release, he’s just a unique guy,” Brown said. “He’s got some abilities that these 5-foot-9 guys have. He brings a good mixture.”

While he’s become the position’s leader on the field, Knox said the situation isn’t the same off of it. Despite being second on the team in receiving yards, with 280, Knox said he’s in a different position in the receivers’ meeting room. Hall and Brown have still been around the team despite their injuries.

Knox prefers to take a back seat there and let Hall and Brown run things.

He still feels nervous before the games and calls his immediate rise to No. 1 receiver “a complete shock,” but he’s not letting it get the best of him. He knows Missouri can’t afford that.

“It’s a big stage,” he said. “But at the same time I know I can do this.”

Alex Schiffer

Alex Schiffer covers University of Missouri athletics for The Star.

This story was originally published October 16, 2018 at 5:05 PM.