Leading receiver

~ Franklin expands his role for the Tigers, both on and off the field.

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- It didn't take long for the new and improved Will Franklin to show himself.

Six plays into Missouri's season-opening 47-7 win over Murray State Saturday, the junior wide receiver took a short pass from quarterback Chase Daniel, made a quick move around the cornerback and ran untouched 60 yards for a touchdown.

Franklin also caught a 34-yard scoring pass later in the game among four catches for 138 yards. For teammates and coaches, it was an extension of what they've seen from the St. Louis native since the beginning of preseason.

Franklin was second on the team with 40 catches for 413 yards in 2005. But there were still a few things he needed to change before he could turn into a consistent threat.

"I'm not going to say I was immature," he said. "Just knowing that I'm going on the downhill of college, the last two years, it was time to mature. It wasn't a choice or an option. It was time to be a leader for the younger guys."

Franklin lost two mentors after last season with the graduation of quarterback Brad Smith and receiver Sean Coffey. When senior Brad Ekwerekwu was forced to miss the first three weeks of fall camp after undergoing an emergency appendectomy, Franklin became, temporarily, the most experienced member of the receiving corps.

That's when the "light went on" for Franklin, receivers coach Andy Hill said, "the realization that the guys you looked up to, the guys you counted on for motivation or guidance and counsel are now gone. You either accept the role or you shy away from it. He's done a good job of accepting it."

Evidence of Franklin's maturity came in how he evaluated his performance after the Murray State game. He was critical of himself for two drops that could have been touchdowns.

"I don't accept that as a good performance -- I dropped two balls," Franklin said. "Next week, when I get those opportunities again, I'll make the best of them."