University of Missouri Athletics

Justin Gage came to Mizzou from nearby Jefferson City as a touted quarterback and left as an accomplished wide receiver who went on to an eight-year NFL career. “12-Gage” switched to wide receiver as a sophomore in 2000 and was an honorable mention all-Big 12 choice after catching 44 passes. He emerged as the Tigers’ top target the next two years and was a first-team all-league honoree. He ended his football career holding MU records in both receptions (200) and receiving yards (2,704). He still ranks second in receiving yardage and third in catches. His top season was 2002 when he caught 82 passes for 1,075 yards and nine touchdowns. Gage still holds MU records for single-game receptions (16 vs. Bowling Green, 2002) and receiving yards in a game (236 vs. Baylor, 2001, and Bowling Green, 2002). He also lettered three times for Coach Quin Snyder’s Mizzou basketball team, playing 73 games over three seasons (2000-01-02) that included trips to the NCAA tournament with the 2002 club advancing to the Elite Eight. He made his niche with a gritty, hard-nosed style of play that allowed the undersized 6-foot-4 forward to effectively guard larger opponents and he was famous for sacrificing his body to dive on loose balls. Gage was a fifth-round pick of the Chicago Bears in the 2003 NFL Draft and played four years each for the Bears and the Tennessee Titans. In 100 career games, he caught 201 passes for 2,958 yards and 16 TDs from 2003-10. Gage was named to the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2022.