One of the best receivers in Denton County high school football history will join one of the best quarterbacks in recent memory next season at Missouri.

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Ryan wide receiver Bud Sasser crosses the goal line for a touchdown against Saginaw last month in a Class 4A Division 1 Region 1 bi-district playoff game in Justin.

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Ryan’s Bud Sasser orally committed to play football next season at Missouri on Sunday. He made up his mind over the weekend on his official visit to Columbia, Mo., a month after taking a recruiting visit to Arizona, the other apparent finalist for Sasser’s prospective services. He also took a visit to Nebraska during football season. Kansas was the fourth school Sasser was considering.

“It’s a big relief to make this decision,” Sasser said. “I just felt good being at Missouri.”

He also said he knew and was looking forward to playing with Lake Dallas quarterback James Franklin, who committed to Missouri in March. Recruiting Web site Rivals.com has the Tigers’ 2010 recruiting class ranked 14th in the nation to this point.

“That makes it all the more exciting,” Sasser said. “I’m really looking forward to playing with all those guys.”

Oral commitments are nonbinding. The first day a football recruit can sign a national letter of intent is Feb. 3.

“I’ve always thought Bud was one of the top receivers in the country,” said Ryan head coach Joey Florence. “I know it was a big decision, and I’m excited for him that he’s headed to a quality program. He’s made the decision, and now he can finish the rest of his senior year and have fun doing it.”

In the past two years at Ryan, Sasser hauled in 135 receptions for 2,407 yards and 47 touchdowns. His 24 touchdown grabs in 2008 are a Ryan school record.

“It’s been fun playing at Ryan,” Sasser said. “There’s good tradition, good teammates and good coaches.”

He was an honorable mention all-state selection after he put up 839 yards and 17 touchdowns on 51 receptions in the 2009 regular season.

“We’re going to miss him, no doubt,” Florence said. “He’s been very valuable to our offense these last two years. We’ve had a whole lot of great receivers come through [Ryan], and Bud’s set the bar high. Now it’s time for another group to step up.”

Missouri has looked to spread opponents out in the past eight seasons under head coach Gary Pinkel, on offensive philosophy that Sasser will be used to the minute he gets on campus in Columbia.

“It’s almost the same offense we’ve ran here at Ryan,” Sasser said. “I’m going in prepared.”

Florence added: “He’ll fit in real well. They like to throw the football, so that’s an environment where Bud can thrive. He’s going to be successful.”

Along with being the second local football product to commit to Missouri this year, Sasser is also the third Ryan Raider to make the transition to Missouri Tiger. Fellow receiver Earl Goldsmith finished his eligibility after the 2008 season, and defensive end Brian Smith was the Tigers’ team most valuable player in 2006.

Both have graduated from Missouri. And now Sasser is the next in line.

MATT MARTINEZ can be reached at 940-566-6873. His e-mail address is mmartinez@dentonrc.com .