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(AP) -- Missouri once again has found its go-totight end.

Michael Egnew is second on the team in receptions (29) and yards (257) after three games. It's exactly what the junior envisioned when he was being recruited after watching the exploits of Chase Coffman and Martin Rucker.

Coffman caught 90 passes for 987 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2008 and won the John Mackey Award as the nation's top tight end. The previous year, Martin Rucker had 87 catches for 834 yards and eight scores.

Both players were NFL draft picks.

Egnew figured his 6-foot-5 frame and athletic ability would translate well to the college level. He also was a state champion long jumper at Plainview (Texas) High School, with a winning effort of 23 feet, 9 inches that caught Pinkel's eye.

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