How four-star WR, Missouri commit Donovan Olugbode fits in with the Tigers’ future

Mike Lang / Sarasota Herald-Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Olugbode is a top-40 player in the 2025 recruiting class.

The No. 25 Missouri Tigers had a rough game against the Alabama Crimson Tide this Saturday, losing 34-0 without their starting quarterback and running back, falling to 6-2 on the season.

Still, they remain a top-25 team in the country, with losses coming to Alabama and now-No. 10 Texas A&M, while beating Boston College, Vanderbilt, and Auburn already.

The Tigers have been led by quarterback Brady Cook, who has thrown for 1,575 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception. But, the bread and butter of their offense has been star wide receiver Luther Burden III, who has 40 catches for 450 yards and four touchdowns this season.

Burden has been seen by many draft pundits as the top receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft, as he could potentially go inside the Top 5, making him a near-lock to leave Missouri at the end of the year.

In addition, the Tigers could lose top receivers Theo Wease Jr. and Mookie Cooper next year, as both are currently seniors, meaning they’ll need an abundance of new talent at the position for the 2025 season.

Insert 2025 four-star wideout Donovan Olugbode, who is a top-40 player in the class, according to Rivals, ranking as the seventh-best receiver in the cycle.

Olugbode, who plays for IMG Academy, stands 6’1’’, 200 pounds, and committed to Missouri back in July following official visits to USC, Florida, and Washington.

Known for his speed, shiftiness in open space, route-running, and reliable hands, Olugbode could very well be an early contributor for Missouri as they navigate with a new receiver room in 2025.

While he has been banged up with injuries this year, the future freshman does have multiple games with over 60 yards this year, serving as one of the team’s top wideouts alongside freshman star Eric McFarland.

His best game of the year came against Venice, where the wideout caught four passes and nearly eclipsed the 100-yard mark, thanks to a 62-yard catch-and-run for a score from quarterback Ty Hawkins.

The four-star has been locked into Missouri, coming out for two gameday visits this year, including being on hand for the 21-17 win over Auburn two weeks ago. But, other programs are seemingly reaching out, looking to gauge the interest of the top-100 receiver as the Early Signing Day period reaches closer and closer.

Looking to the future, Missouri currently has eight scholarship wide receivers for next year: rising senior Mekhi Miller, rising juniors Marquis Johnson, Joshua Manning, and Daniel Blood, rising sophomores James Madison II and Courtney Crutchfield, and rising freshmen Olugbode and three-star Shaun Terry.

Should the room stay the same, Miller and Manning project as the team’s top outside receivers, while Blood and Johnson could be more seen as inside/outside options. That leaves open room in the rotation for the younger guys to step up and Olugbode will be one of the more high-profile names that’ll look to cement himself early.

Being a crisp route-runner, it wouldn’t be surprising if the freshman impresses the coaching staff early, but getting healthy will be important for him to start off strong at the next level.