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Missouri vs. Syracuse: Gary Pinkel predicts 'good things' for Dorial Green-Beckham

Dorial Green-Beckham is starting to deliver on some of the promise that made him one of the nation's elite recruits.

By Kevin Jeffers
Dak Dillon-US PRESSWIRE

Missouri Tigers wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham came up with a huge, game-tying touchdown reception from quarterback James Franklin in last weekend's 51-48, triple-overtime win over the Tennessee Volunteers.

On a fourth-and-12 with under a minute left, Franklin scrambled and found Green-Beckham alone in the end zone to tie the game at 28. The receiver also caught a touchdown pass in the second overtime to help extend the game. The touchdown catches were Green-Beckham's only two receptions in the game.

At his weekly press conference, Tigers head coach Gary Pinkel said he was impressed with Green-Beckham's instincts on the game-extending play:

"I just think also his athleticism and his instinct. He kept both of his feet in on that big throw. You talk about a big play; how big could that play be? It's probably game over if that play doesn't work. That's also James extending that play and making a great throw in a great spot. You want that, you coach it. Both of them kind of just ad-lib it a little bit. That happens a lot. It happens with all of other quarterbacks and receivers. I think for Dorial, that's experience. He's playing more he's getting a little more confidence and I also think there's instinct there."

Pinkel also talked about how much Green-Beckham has improved this season:

"He's got a lot of talent and we know that. He's also practicing very well. He's a lot different football player right now than he was five weeks ago because he's working so had on fundamentals and so on and so forth. It's a glimpse of what he can be. A glimpse. I said the same thing about Sheldon [Richardson] a year ago. If he continues to work hard like he does, then a lot of good things will happen for him and for us."

Rivals listed Green-Beckham, a freshman from Springfield, Mo., as the No. 1 overall recruit in the country last year. He was the 2011 National Player of the Year by Sports Illustrated, USA Today and Parade Magazine. He has 22 receptions fro 261 yards and 3 touchdowns on the season.