Welcome to Four Down Territory where I’ll give you three thoughts on Missouri football or college football in general. Then, the last thought will be whatever I want it to be.
1. Camp thoughts and ranking the offensive positions groups from solidified to not solidified.
Fall camp is here. Mizzou held its first media day on Sunday and the next day its first practice.
My overarching thought on media day a couple of days later is that it was similar to SEC Media Days because nothing outrageous happened, however, when a team has legit College Football Playoff aspirations that's probably a good thing.
The biggest change was Eli Drinkwitz announcing additions, promotions and title changes to his coaching staff. For more on that, click here.
The coaching staff kept telling us that every starting job and spot in the rotation is up for grabs, but that's not true.
So, let's rank positions from solidified to not solidified to understand where the question marks are for the position groups. The offense will go first.
1. Quarterback. This is pretty simple. Brady Cook is the starter and his backup is Drew Pyne.
2. Tight end. This positioning doesn't mean Brett Norfleet is the second-best player on the team, but there isn't competition for his starting job.
3. Offensive line. Drinkwitz said the competition is "wide open" for the offensive line. The reality is it's not.
Connor Tollison will be the center, Cam'Ron Johnson will be the right guard and Armand Membou will be the right tackle. The two "question marks" surround the left guard and left tackle spots. On Monday, Cayden Green was taking reps at left guard and Marcus Bryant was taking reps at left tackle next to him (as expected) in drills the media was allowed to see.
Not to mention, Green is the 12th overall transfer in the Rivals transfer tracker rankings and Bryant was a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection in 2023. Those players don't sit on the bench.
In all likelihood, Drinkwitz said there was an open competition to emphasize how deep they feel the team is at offensive line but it would take something major to happen for someone else to enter the starting lineup.
4. Wide receiver. This is close and could be higher on some people's lists. This group sits at No. 4 on this list just because outside of the top three (Luther Burden, Theo Wease and Mookie Cooper) there can be several combinations for who rounds out the depth chart.
Mekhi Miller and Speedy Johnson have experience and have made huge plays during their respective tenures with the team. Joshua Manning and Daniel Blood are players the team is excited about, and then there are four-star freshmen Courtney Crutchfield and James Madison.
5. Running back. This is the only position on offense that truly doesn't have a starter. We know it will likely be Marcus Carroll or Nate Noel, and Jamal Roberts will likely be the RB3.
2. Ranking the defensive position groups.
1. Cornerbacks. The starters will be Toriano Pride and Drey Norwood. There's no question about that and Marcus Clarke will almost certainly be the CB3. After that, Mizzou has to figure out who will be the CB4. There are questions for this group but who the starters are isn't one of them.
2. Linebacker. Missouri bulked up the depth at this position but Triston Newson and Chuck Hicks are still the favorites to start because they've been with the team and they've started and performed well. Behind them are Brayshawn Littlejohn, Khalil Jacobs and Corey Flagg. The latter two will probably nab the LB3 and Lb4 spots but Littlejohn may see more action this year.
3. Safety. Even though the starting free safety spot is vacant we know what players will be in the rotation. Joe Charleston will start at strong safety while Daylan Carnell starts at the STAR. Sidney Williams will likely be listed as Charleston's backup while Phillip Roche backs up Carnell. That leaves Marvin Burks and Tre'Vez Johnson to compete at free safety. However, it's important to note all of these players are interchangeable. No one is limited to one safety spot.
4. Defensive end. Johnny Walker will be the DE1. But that's the extent of what we know right now. There is plenty of talent at the position but figuring out who will start opposite Walker is a huge question. The next big question is who will make up the rest of the rotation. Zion Young, Darris Smith, Joe Moore and Eddie Kelly will likely be the answers to those questions in some shape or form.
Also, will freshmen defensive end Williams Nwaneri and Jaylen Brown break into the rotation?
5. Defensive tackle. Like EDGE, the only thing that's known is Kristian Williams will probably start. A year ago, this was one of the deepest positions on the team and now they're looking for answers to make up that depth. Chris McClellan will likely start next to Williams if I had to guess but it's important to remember that the DT3 and DT4 play almost as much as the starters. The Tigers have more than enough options to fill those roles but time will tell who does it.
Lastly, let’s look at the kicking situations.
1. Kicker. It’s not a matter of but a matter of can he? As in can Blake Craig do the job?
2. Punter. This is a true position battle and if the last couple of years have taught us anything then this battle never really ends. In the two seasons I’ve covered there have been multiple punters who started each season. Maybe Luke Bauer or Orion Phillips ends that and claims the spot full-time in camp.
1. Camp thoughts and ranking the offensive positions groups from solidified to not solidified.
Fall camp is here. Mizzou held its first media day on Sunday and the next day its first practice.
My overarching thought on media day a couple of days later is that it was similar to SEC Media Days because nothing outrageous happened, however, when a team has legit College Football Playoff aspirations that's probably a good thing.
The biggest change was Eli Drinkwitz announcing additions, promotions and title changes to his coaching staff. For more on that, click here.
The coaching staff kept telling us that every starting job and spot in the rotation is up for grabs, but that's not true.
So, let's rank positions from solidified to not solidified to understand where the question marks are for the position groups. The offense will go first.
1. Quarterback. This is pretty simple. Brady Cook is the starter and his backup is Drew Pyne.
2. Tight end. This positioning doesn't mean Brett Norfleet is the second-best player on the team, but there isn't competition for his starting job.
3. Offensive line. Drinkwitz said the competition is "wide open" for the offensive line. The reality is it's not.
Connor Tollison will be the center, Cam'Ron Johnson will be the right guard and Armand Membou will be the right tackle. The two "question marks" surround the left guard and left tackle spots. On Monday, Cayden Green was taking reps at left guard and Marcus Bryant was taking reps at left tackle next to him (as expected) in drills the media was allowed to see.
Not to mention, Green is the 12th overall transfer in the Rivals transfer tracker rankings and Bryant was a first-team All-American Athletic Conference selection in 2023. Those players don't sit on the bench.
In all likelihood, Drinkwitz said there was an open competition to emphasize how deep they feel the team is at offensive line but it would take something major to happen for someone else to enter the starting lineup.
4. Wide receiver. This is close and could be higher on some people's lists. This group sits at No. 4 on this list just because outside of the top three (Luther Burden, Theo Wease and Mookie Cooper) there can be several combinations for who rounds out the depth chart.
Mekhi Miller and Speedy Johnson have experience and have made huge plays during their respective tenures with the team. Joshua Manning and Daniel Blood are players the team is excited about, and then there are four-star freshmen Courtney Crutchfield and James Madison.
5. Running back. This is the only position on offense that truly doesn't have a starter. We know it will likely be Marcus Carroll or Nate Noel, and Jamal Roberts will likely be the RB3.
2. Ranking the defensive position groups.
1. Cornerbacks. The starters will be Toriano Pride and Drey Norwood. There's no question about that and Marcus Clarke will almost certainly be the CB3. After that, Mizzou has to figure out who will be the CB4. There are questions for this group but who the starters are isn't one of them.
2. Linebacker. Missouri bulked up the depth at this position but Triston Newson and Chuck Hicks are still the favorites to start because they've been with the team and they've started and performed well. Behind them are Brayshawn Littlejohn, Khalil Jacobs and Corey Flagg. The latter two will probably nab the LB3 and Lb4 spots but Littlejohn may see more action this year.
3. Safety. Even though the starting free safety spot is vacant we know what players will be in the rotation. Joe Charleston will start at strong safety while Daylan Carnell starts at the STAR. Sidney Williams will likely be listed as Charleston's backup while Phillip Roche backs up Carnell. That leaves Marvin Burks and Tre'Vez Johnson to compete at free safety. However, it's important to note all of these players are interchangeable. No one is limited to one safety spot.
4. Defensive end. Johnny Walker will be the DE1. But that's the extent of what we know right now. There is plenty of talent at the position but figuring out who will start opposite Walker is a huge question. The next big question is who will make up the rest of the rotation. Zion Young, Darris Smith, Joe Moore and Eddie Kelly will likely be the answers to those questions in some shape or form.
Also, will freshmen defensive end Williams Nwaneri and Jaylen Brown break into the rotation?
5. Defensive tackle. Like EDGE, the only thing that's known is Kristian Williams will probably start. A year ago, this was one of the deepest positions on the team and now they're looking for answers to make up that depth. Chris McClellan will likely start next to Williams if I had to guess but it's important to remember that the DT3 and DT4 play almost as much as the starters. The Tigers have more than enough options to fill those roles but time will tell who does it.
Lastly, let’s look at the kicking situations.
1. Kicker. It’s not a matter of but a matter of can he? As in can Blake Craig do the job?
2. Punter. This is a true position battle and if the last couple of years have taught us anything then this battle never really ends. In the two seasons I’ve covered there have been multiple punters who started each season. Maybe Luke Bauer or Orion Phillips ends that and claims the spot full-time in camp.
