Mason dismissed from Missouri football

COLUMBIA, Mo. - According to multiple reports and first reported by Power Mizzou, wide receiver Dimetrios Mason is no longer a member of the Missouri football program.

Mason, a sophomore starter, caught 13 passes for 119 yards through four games this season after an impressive freshman season in which he caught 47 passes for 587 yards and three scores. He was also one of the Tigers' primary kick returners through the early going of the 2017 season.

He had been Drew Lock's most-targeted receiver, but wasn't catching the ball at the same rate as a year ago. Mason has been targeted 25 times by Lock, one more than J'Mon Moore, but his 13 receptions works out to a 52 percent catch rate, and his average yards per catch (9.2) trailed every receiver and tight end with multiple receptions on the roster. Still, he had the second-most catches on the team, which means players like Emanuel Hall, Dominic Collins and Nate Brown could see increased playing time.

Mason's departure leaves Missouri with seven scholarship wide receivers, and appears he was in violation of team rules and not in any legal trouble.

The Tigers also lost a commitment Friday in Sidney Lanier (Ala.) outside linebacker La'Dedric Jackson. He tweeted, "I want to thank the coaching staff at Missouri, but after talking with my family and praying, I have decided to fully de-commit from Missouri. I will be looking at other options and making my decision at a later date."

He originally committed July 26.

Jackson, a three-star recruit, is high school teammates with James Foster II, a dual-threat quarterback committed to the Tigers.