#18

Makai Cope

WR · Missouri State · R-Jr. · #18

Returning to Missouri State for 2026
R-Jr. · Los Angeles, Calif. → Culver City High
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This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Makai Cope

WR · Missouri State · Sr · #18

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#526 national
CFB
College
2 teams
2022–2025
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted (yet)

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2022Utah10-4HC: Kyle Whittingham · Run-leaning
2025Missouri State7-6HC: Ryan Beard · Balanced

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2025Missouri State2026913.40--
2022Utah77510.71--
Career2734412.71--

How he plays

Play style

Moves the chains on third down.

CFB Index positional classification

2026 Outlook

Missouri State

2026 Depth chart

Projected starter

Wide receiver · Missouri State

Returning around him

  • Transfer portal: +8 net (19 in / 11 out)

2026 Award watch

No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)

Missouri State · Last season: 7-6 · Talent rank #129 · 2026 recruiting class #128

DNA match

Player DNA

Possession Receiver

Reliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive.

WR

His 2025 production profile sits closest to Will Pelissier’s 2024 season.

Wyoming · 2024

#2

Eli Pancol

Duke · 2022

83%
#3

Quinton Lane

Jacksonville State · 2023

82%
#4

Darryle Simmons

Marshall · 2023

81%
#5

Hal Presley

Baylor · 2023

81%

Matches Will on

Total EPA (college ability)
Yards / reception
Reception volume

Differs from Will on

EPA / play (adj) (lower)

Through 2 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Ryan Flournoy’s path through Southeast Missouri State.

Ryan Flournoy

100%match

Southeast Missouri State · 2023

NFL Rd 6
#2

Ma'jon Wright

Arizona · 2020

96%
#3

Ian Duarte

Idaho State · 2025

96%
#4

Tru Edwards

Louisiana Tech · 2024

All-Conference USA
94%
#5

Isaiah Washington

Rutgers · 2023

94%

Matches Ryan on

Yards per reception
20222025

As a sophomore, his production profile tracks closest to Caleb Snead's sophomore season at Liberty (2022).

Caleb Snead

87%match

Liberty · 2022

#2

Bryan Thompson

Arizona State · 2021

83%
#3

Eli Pancol

Duke · 2021

81%
#4

Landon Sims

Hawai'i · 2024

81%
#5

Mershawn Rice

Purdue · 2022

78%

Matches Caleb on

Class year
Reception volume
Weight

Heisman trajectory

Heisman Trajectory · 2025

Peak #2025

Final rank
#2664
Avg #2381.7
Finalist prob 0%

Peaked at #2025 this season.

Development

Development Trajectory · receiving yards

2022–2025
75.02022
2692025

+259%

Up 259% from first season to most-recent.

Background

Honors CUSA Honor Roll: 2025 Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll: 2021 MSU Athletic Director's Honor Roll: Fall 2025, Spring 2026 Missouri State 2025: Played in 12 games (412 snaps) and made 5 starts in his first season at Missouri State ... Finished campaign with 20 catches for 260 yards with multiple re...

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