#MizzouMadeMonday: Jeremy Maclin
7/30/2018 3:58:00 PM | Football
Jeremy Maclin: an unquestionable Mizzou legend. He is a True Son, hailing from St. Louis where he attended Kirkwood High School and starred in both football and basketball. As one of the nation's top recruits coming out of high school in 2006, he was recruited by the likes of Ohio State, Oklahoma, and Notre Dame. He was, however, unable to be lured away from his home state.
"If there was one place I could go back to in my life, it would be college at Mizzou," Maclin said. "It really helped to shape me into who I am today."
With hopes to contribute immediately as a true freshman, he arrived in Columbia in the summer of 2006 and was sidelined with a knee injury, suffered during 7-on-7 passing drills. Jeremy had never had a serious injury up until that point in his career, and to find out he had torn his ACL was not the way he wanted to begin his time at Mizzou. After working tirelessly throughout the rehab process, he was cleared to practice with the team by the end of the 2006 season.
"To get the type of support I had from Coach Pinkel and his staff and to understand that it wasn't just a guy getting hurt and that they truly cared about me was pretty cool."
Poised for a breakout year in 2007, a surgically repaired ACL did nothing to hold him back. The breakout star produced 2,776 all-purpose yards, a NCAA FBS single-season freshman record and the fifth-most ever in a single season by any player in FBS history. He was named a Consensus First Team All-American at the conclusion of the season, the first Mizzou Freshman in history to receive that honor. Maclin was also the only player in the nation to record a touchdown via receiving (nine), rushing (four), punt return (two), and kickoff return (one).
Prior to his sophomore campaign, Maclin was named a preseason First Team All-American, continuing to build the hype for the 2008 season. He lived up to all the expectations as he compiled 2,833 all-purpose yards and averaged more than 200 yards a game. His success as a receiver earned him the designation of finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to college football's best wide receiver. The Tigers had another spectacular year, a second consecutive Big 12 North Division Championship, due in large part to Maclin's tremendous play.
Maclin was selected with the 19th overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles and has enjoyed a prolific NFL Career. Throughout his professional career, he has made a concerted effort to come back to Columbia and give back to all the fans who supported him while he was wearing the black and gold. Through the JMac Gives Back Foundation, Maclin has put on numerous events and clinics to help kids in alternate living situations.
"I don't do it for the publicity, I do it to benefit others and because I love to help others," Maclin said. "I think that's what it is all about."
In 2013 he hosted the Mizzou Legends Weekend where former Mizzou Football players such as Sean Weatherspoon, Ziggy Hood, Danario Alexander and Brad Smith returned to The Zou to raise money for his foundation through a kids clinic and a celebrity softball game.
His experiences while in Columbia, both successes and failures, have shaped him into the man he is today. While back in Columbia, Smith reflected on his relationship with Maclin.
"Just knowing him as a person and how he's grown as a man has been inspiring," Smith said. "All of the guys who came back here to support him, it must mean something about his character that people respect."
For fans, Jeremy Maclin helped their team become a force to be reckoned with on the national stage. For him, Maclin, Mizzou's impact on him was equally as large as his impact on the program.
"Mizzou helped me to become a fighter and with the support of others, I learned that anything is possible."
