J-Mac's Top 9

A completely subjective look at the nine greatest plays of Jeremy Maclin's career as a Missouri Tiger:

9. Illinois, Sept. 1, 2007: Early in the third quarter Jeremy Maclin caught an 18-yard pass from Chase Daniel. One play later he scored on a 25-yard touchdown reception. Our first glimpse of the explosiveness that Maclin possessed. We hoped it was a sign of things to come. We had no idea.

8. Illinois, Sept. 1, 2007: Less than four minutes after he scored his first career touchdown Maclin returned a punt and a funny thing happened, all the Illinois players started moving in slow motion. A strange phenomenon that we would see play out numerous times over the next two years. This was the first time Maclin made a play that just caused my jaw to drop and left me speechless. It wouldn't be the last. 

7. Western Michigan, Sept. 15, 2007: This was Jeremy Maclin's debut on Faurot Field and the first time I got to see him play in-person. If there was any doubt that his performance the previous week in the Arch Rivalry was legit they were quickly put to rest on this sunny afternoon. Maclin caught seven passes for 96 yards, rushed the ball six times for 52 yards, returned five kickoffs for another 96 yards and racked up 31 yards on two punts. He also scored two touchdowns. The highlights: A 17-yard touchdown run on a direct snap that looked so effortless a kU grad could've done it and a 23-yard punt return that included so many jukes and changes of direction that I thought my ankles were going to break. This was when it started becoming very apparent that J-Mac was on a different playing field than just about everyone else. 

6. Oklahoma, Oct. 13, 2007: Late in the third quarter Jeremy Maclin ran for a 10-yard touchdown on a reverse to pull Mizzou to within one score of the Sooners. The run wasn't really breathtaking or anything except for the fact that Maclin was now blowing by OU players instead of Western Michigan players. It was the first time in a loooonng time that Ol' Mizzou was able to put a player on the field that was every bit as good as any guy in a Sooners uniform. 

5. Kansas State, Nov. 17, 2007: Mizzou hadn't returned a kickoff for a touchdown since four years before I was born. They hadn't won at K-State since I was two years old. Both of those things changed on the same beautiful November afternoon thanks in large part to Jeremy Maclin. In perhaps his most dazzling performance as a Tiger, Maclin scored three touchdowns and racked up 252 total yards including a sensational 99-yard kickoff return. In the process he broke the NCAA single season freshman record for all-purpose yards. 

4. Illinois, Aug. 30, 2008: Tigers trailing 13-10 following a pick6 by Chase Daniel about halfway through the second quarter. I can remember thinking about how much it would suck if our National Championship dreams got derailed in our season opener. Enter Cheat Code. On the ensuing kickoff Maclin returns it, to quote Mike Kelly, "99-yards TO THE HOUSE!" 

3. kansas, Nov. 28, 2008: Not a day that Tiger fans will ever remember fondly. But in my mind, this might have been Maclin's finest hour. With the clock ticking away the Tigers were still trailing 30-26. The previous two drives had stalled and it seemed like it was a now-or-never situation for the Tigers. With 7:47 remaining the Tigers took a timeout as they were faced with a 3rd-and-10 from the kU 25-yard line. Moments later Maclin ran a slant route and Chase Daniel delivered a pass to him that was high and right between a couple Jayhawk defenders. Maclin went up in traffic and snatched the pass for a critical first down, took a huge pop from a couple of beakers and was temporarily knocked out of the game. The Tigers scored a touchdown two plays later and took their first lead of the game. We all knew Maclin had talent, but this play more than any other showed us that J-Mac also had the heart to match his ability.

2. Northwestern, Dec. 29, 2008: With the second half of the Alamo Bowl coming to a close the Tigers were set to head to the locker room with their lowest point total, three points, since...well, since I can remember. But then Northwestern punter Stefan Demos made the inexcusable mistake of actually kicking the ball to Mr. Playmaker himself. 75-yards and a touchdown later the Tigers and Wildcats were deadlocked at 10-10 and it was the Tigers who carried the momentum into halftime despite being outplayed for 29 minutes.

1. Northwestern, Dec. 29, 2008: We all know the story on this one. Overtime. Northwestern seemingly having the momentum after Jeff Wolfert missed a would-be game winning field goal at the end of regulation. Maclin runs the wrong route. Chase bobbles the snap. Nonetheless, touchdown. A few minutes later we were watching the Tigers celebrate their third bowl victory in four years. A swan song for one of this winningest bunches of players in school history.

Thanks for the memories J-Mac. Best of luck in the NFL.