National Signing Day 2012: Dorial Green-Beckham Confuses Many by Selecting Missouri Tigers

Thursday, February 2, 2012

MUTigers.com

By Bob Evans
Senior Writer

For a player as highly touted as Dorial Green-Beckham of Hillcrest High School in Springfield, Mo., his collegiate choice ended with more of a fizzle than a bang.

After months of keeping his decision very “close to the vest”, Green-Beckham ended all of the speculation when he chose his home state Missouri Tigers. This move came as a slight shock, as many people believed he would choose the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Green-Beckham set national records for receptions, yards and touchdowns in his high school career, and the 6’6” and 220 pound wide receiver could have gone to any school of his choosing. For this reason, it is very puzzling why he chose the Tigers.

Aside from the obvious “home state” reasons, the Tigers’ program doesn’t really have much to offer in terms of championship hopes for the 18-year old. Missouri is set to join the toughest conference in the country next season by joining the SEC, and after struggling to contend for a championship in the Big 12, it is highly unlikely they will be making any moves toward an SEC championship any time soon.

Green-Beckham stated, “I see myself as coming in there and being a part of the offense real well. James Franklin will have spaced to throw the ball and it will be good.”

While the dual-threat Franklin and Missouri’s spread offense will help him put up monstrous numbers at the collegiate level, there had to be another reason why he chose the Tigers.

The reason that emerged, for Green-Beckham, ended up being the opportunity to play in front of family and friends. “It’s a big opportunity to be up there, I have all of my friends and family and my mom and dad will be able to follow me where I go,” he said.

Normally this writer isn’t in the business of scrutinizing a player’s choice of a college program, especially when it is to stay home and play in front of friends and family. However, after one of the most prolific high school careers by any receiver, it is tough to swallow this decision—especially if this kid wants to go on to a major NFL career.

Missouri has only produced one first round wide receiver, Jeremy Maclin in 2009, in program history. Since 1967, the Tigers have only had 17 receivers total head to the NFL. Maybe Green-Beckham will be the receiver to start a new trend in Missouri, but history most certainly is not on his side.

If you look down the list of Tigers’ receivers to head to the NFL, outside of Maclin, the most notable names are Brad Smith (quarterback that converted), Justin Gage and Mel Gray back in 1971. Gray is the only member of this group to make an All-Pro team, way back in 1975.

At the end of the day, Green-Beckham ultimately made the decision he thought was best for his family to have the opportunity to watch him grow as a player. While this was an honorable move, it is one that will be paid attention to over the next three years. And at the end of his three or four-year collegiate career, he may be left wondering why he stayed home instead of chasing championships at a bigger, more wide receiver prolific school.


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