MU’s Bud Sasser moves up in wake of Dorial Green-Beckham’s departure

When spring camp opened up, senior wide receiver Bud Sasser’s challenge was to flourish as Marcus Lucas’ replacement as the primary starter in the slot.

He admitted before the first spring scrimmage April 5 that there was some pressure involved with becoming an every-down player, but shrugged it off.

Sasser, who was listed as the starter at the “H” receiver and was used most often in four-receiver sets last season, inherited even more pressure when Dorial Green-Beckham was dismissed last week.

Sasser is getting the first crack as the starter at the “X” receiver spot vacated by Green-Beckham, who totaled 59 receptions for 883 yards with 12 touchdowns last season.

“We’re going to move them over, move them up — let’s go,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. “It doesn’t matter. We’ve got other opportunities for guys and that’s the way we look at it.”

That’s also how Sasser feels, so don’t tell him he has big shoes to fill.

“I don’t feel like I’m stepping into someone else’s shoes,” Sasser said. “I’ve been playing, but there’s an opportunity to have a bigger role and, for myself, I just come in every day and work as hard as possible. I let everything else take care of itself.”

Sasser said he won’t compare himself with Green-Beckham, but he also won’t be fazed by fans (or media) who do.

“I can’t worry about what other people are thinking,” Sasser said. “As an offensive group and a defensive group, we can’t worry about trying to fill someone else’s shoes. You just play your hardest for as long as possible and then the next guys stepping in plays his hardest for as long as possible.”

Sasser finished fourth on the Tigers last season in receptions (26) and receiving (361) and caught one touchdown, a 20-yard strike over the top from Maty Mauk that kicked off a 36-17 rout against Florida.

Sasser also threw a 40-yard touchdown to L’Damian Washington in an upset win at Georgia.

“I was actually pretty excited to move out there, because it’s the last position that I haven’t played full-time. Other than that, on the offensive side, I just need to play a little bit of offensive line and running back,” Sasser joked.

He isn’t kidding when he says that Missouri expects to have every bit as strong of a receiving corps in 2014 as it did last season.

“Come watch this year,” Sasser said. “I don’t really have anything else to say to anyone who’s doubting us.”

Sasser’s move also opened up an opportunity for sophomore Levi Copelin as the new starting slot receiver.

“I’m ready to come out and earn a spot,” Copelin said. “That’s been my mind-set no matter who’s here or who’s there. I’ve always told Bud Sasser and Jimmie Hunt — they think I’m joking, but I’m serious — I’m coming to take your spot. That’s just my mind-set. I want to be one of the very best out here.”

Obviously, losing Green-Beckham was a severe blow to a position group that also lost Lucas and Washington to graduation, but the new group exudes confidence and is working to build chemistry with Mauk.

“We’re going to need everybody,” Copelin said. “All our weapons are going to be used this year. It’s just time to go.”

This story was originally published April 18, 2014 at 8:38 PM with the headline "MU’s Bud Sasser moves up in wake of Dorial Green-Beckham’s departure."