Missouri’s Kevin Coleman Jr. a Game-Time Decision for Gator Bowl Amid WR Depth Concerns
As Missouri gears up for Saturday night’s TaxSlayer Gator Bowl clash against No. 19 Virginia, all eyes are on the status of standout wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr., who’s officially a game-time decision due to illness.
Coleman, who’s been under the weather in recent days, is expected to suit up, but whether he takes the field at EverBank Stadium will come down to how he feels closer to kickoff. That decision looms large for a Tigers offense already walking a tightrope in terms of depth at the skill positions.
Let’s be clear: Coleman has been the go-to guy in Missouri’s passing game this season. With 63 catches for 715 yards, he’s not just leading the team in receptions-he’s been the engine of the aerial attack.
And while he’s only found the end zone once through the air, his impact stretches beyond the stat sheet. Just ask Arkansas, who saw him take a punt to the house in Missouri’s 31-17 win last month.
Now, with Coleman’s status uncertain and the Tigers already rolling out true freshman Matt Zollers at quarterback, Missouri’s offensive outlook gets even more complicated. Zollers has shown flashes of potential, but asking a freshman QB to navigate a bowl game against a top-20 opponent without his top pass-catchers? That’s a tall order.
And it’s not just Coleman who might be missing. Missouri will be without Josh Manning and Marquis Johnson, both of whom are headed for the transfer portal when it opens on January 2. Add in the absence of starting tight end Brett Norfleet-who underwent shoulder surgery after leading the team with five touchdown grabs-and suddenly, the Tigers’ receiving corps looks razor-thin.
That puts true freshman Donovan Olugbode in the spotlight. He’s had a solid debut season with 25 receptions for 352 yards and two scores, and he’ll likely be Zollers’ top target if Coleman can’t go.
Behind Olugbode, the experience drops off quickly. Daniel Blood has four catches for 37 yards, Xavier Loyd has one grab for 15, and Shaun Terry II has one for nine.
Missouri’s offense will need to get creative if Coleman’s sidelined. The Tigers are already facing a stingy Virginia defense, and doing so with a depleted receiving unit and a freshman quarterback means the margin for error is paper-thin.
Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC. Whether Coleman takes the field could go a long way in determining if Missouri can keep pace with a surging Cavaliers squad.