I talked to more than 20 players/assistant coaches today. Going to break things up in a few different notebooks/segments over the next few days in addition to regular stories I'll write. First up, I want to give you guys a few notes and quotes from guys that were on the roster last year but could potentially take on some bigger roles this season.
BJ Harris
YR: Sophomore
POS: Running Back
Home Town: Chattanooga, TN
Last year: 9 games played, 22 carries, 73 yards
Curtis Luper said "Three guys played for us last year, BJ Harris, Michael Cox and Elijah Young So you know, you would think they'd have a little upper hand because they know the system a little bit better. They played in SEC games. They helped us win games, they played on special teams so expectation is high for for those three guys as it is for everybody."
Harris told me the biggest growth he's had since last year is confidence and just knowledge of the playbook.
"I had a lot of people I could look up to and get advice from so I feel like it was only rough for me in the summer when I had low knowledge on the playbook and I didn't know what I was doing. And once I got everything down and older guys were talking to me, I was able to get through it and make it fun for me.
"I definitely have a lot more confidence. I'm starting to learn to playbook faster and I'm able to move on the field at full speed now that I know what I'm doing completely. So I'm feeling good."
Ky Montgomery
YR: RS Freshman
POS: Defensive Tackle
Home Town: Indianapolis, IN
Last year: Redshirted
Biggest thing with Montgomery is he is inside full time now. He told me he weighs about 285. He said he'll miss "a few weeks" but hopes to get back healthy and be able to contribute as soon as possible. This comes on the heels of missing all of last season after a knee injury in fall camp.
"I learned a lot about myself with mental toughness. Really, that was that was the main thing that I had to figure out. Who really am I? When when times get tough, you know?"
Realistically, with the health issues, I'd think Montgomery is a year away from significant playing time. He said the only goal he really has right now is to get healthy and in shape to play.
Dameon Wilson
YR: RS Freshman
POS: Linebacker
Home Town: Grover, NC
Last year: Redshirted, but did appear in two games
Wilson was one of two linebackers Mizzou brought in last year and despite struggles at the position, the Tigers kept the redshirt on both him and Zach Lovett. There would seem to be more playing time available there this year, but with the addition of Ty'Ron Hopper, you never know. Wilson told me he's trying to make sure he's got a good grasp on the playbook and just do whatever he is asked to do. He specifically mentioned special teams as a way to get on the field. So I'm not sure you look for him in the rotation early on, but could definitely be a guy that helps out on coverage units and such.
Arden Walker
YR: RS Freshman
POS: Defensive End
Home Town: Denver, CO
Last year: Redshirted, but did appear in four games, making five tackles
Walker showed some flashes last year. Defensive ends coach Kevin Peoples said going into camp you would think that Isaiah McGuire and Trajan Jeffcoat will be the starters, but there are guys that can challenge. Obviously there's transfer DJ Coleman, but he mentioned Arden Walker as one of those guys as well. Walker last year was basically going off pure talent. He said he was happy to get a little bit of action, but his first year was more about adjusting to the college game.
"I think from just the IQ standpoint, like just really identifying like roles and then just like the defense and really learning the defense. I mean, it didn't take me long, but of course, just the speed of the game, it's totally different from high school, just really making that transition. So I kind of spent the year just really getting into that transition, I guess you could say."
Walker's a kid I'm going to keep my eye on this month. They really liked him coming out of high school and I think he's one of those guys who some people may have forgotten about who could give some quality reps this year even if he's unlikely to be a starter.
E.J. Ndoma-Ogar
YR: Sophomore
POS: Offensive Guard
Home Town: Allen, TX
Last year: Played in four games after transferring from Oklahoma.
Ndoma-Ogar was one of the guys that I thought we might see a little bit more of last year. There was some PT available when Case Cook went down, but Ndoma-Ogar really only got extended run in one or two games. Realistically, maybe I expected too much in year one as a transfer in just his second year of college on the offensive line. When I asked him how he assessed his first year, he said there were some things that Marcus Johnson really harped on him needing to do better. I asked specifically what he meant.
"Just seeing the bigger picture on the field, you know, coach Johnson has done a great job with all of us, helping us with things that people would really wouldn't normally see, you know, things to look out for or, you know, free play adjustments and things like that. So that was something I really needed help on. So Coach Johnson took that stuff he helped us with it."
I asked where he is this year compared to last year. He said he thinks "it's a night and day change. I feel like I'm a totally different football player."
Dominic Lovett
YR: Sophomore
POS: Wide Receiver
Home Town: East St. Louis, IL
Last year: Played in all 13 games, started six. Had 26 catches for 173 yards and four carries for 40 yards.
Lovett is a perfect example of a player maybe having better perspective than we do. Because I think if you asked most people, they'd say Lovett's first year left them wanting a little bit more. He played quite a bit, but it just seemed it would be a play or two early on and then his use really tailed off. You saw flashes, but you wanted to see more. But we forget, he was a true freshman. I asked Lovett what he thought of his first year.
"I would say I would be grateful considering that a lot of freshmen don't get to get on the field as a freshman or aren't forced to be on the field as a freshman. So me being out there were older guys and them pourting into me helping me grasp the game, I felt like that was big, so I would say unfortunate."
That's pretty good perspective for a young kid. He goes from being a superstar in high school to being a role player and he handles it perfectly. I asked if that was something he understood during the year or if there were times he was frustrated and he didn't really have that perspective until the offseason.
"I was able to understand it from the beginning, you know, coming from high school to college sometimes the toll road may be a little slower than what it was before. And you can't make it about yourself. It has to be about the team or nothing will get accomplished. So I learned that from Tauske, Barrett, Keke, the older guys, they just kept pouring into me and I would say my freshman year I was greatly thankful."
Lovett is probably going to be the most popular pick for a breakout player this season.
All of our fall camp coverage is brought to you by Quirk Hard Seltzer from Boulevard Brewing Company. Quirk Hard Seltzers are made with real fruit juice and ingredient-driven flavor combinations. Clean, high quality and gluten-free, Quirk is infinitely enjoyable and brimming with unpredictably individuality—it’s hard seltzer with more personality.
BJ Harris
YR: Sophomore
POS: Running Back
Home Town: Chattanooga, TN
Last year: 9 games played, 22 carries, 73 yards
Curtis Luper said "Three guys played for us last year, BJ Harris, Michael Cox and Elijah Young So you know, you would think they'd have a little upper hand because they know the system a little bit better. They played in SEC games. They helped us win games, they played on special teams so expectation is high for for those three guys as it is for everybody."
Harris told me the biggest growth he's had since last year is confidence and just knowledge of the playbook.
"I had a lot of people I could look up to and get advice from so I feel like it was only rough for me in the summer when I had low knowledge on the playbook and I didn't know what I was doing. And once I got everything down and older guys were talking to me, I was able to get through it and make it fun for me.
"I definitely have a lot more confidence. I'm starting to learn to playbook faster and I'm able to move on the field at full speed now that I know what I'm doing completely. So I'm feeling good."
Ky Montgomery
YR: RS Freshman
POS: Defensive Tackle
Home Town: Indianapolis, IN
Last year: Redshirted
Biggest thing with Montgomery is he is inside full time now. He told me he weighs about 285. He said he'll miss "a few weeks" but hopes to get back healthy and be able to contribute as soon as possible. This comes on the heels of missing all of last season after a knee injury in fall camp.
"I learned a lot about myself with mental toughness. Really, that was that was the main thing that I had to figure out. Who really am I? When when times get tough, you know?"
Realistically, with the health issues, I'd think Montgomery is a year away from significant playing time. He said the only goal he really has right now is to get healthy and in shape to play.
Dameon Wilson
YR: RS Freshman
POS: Linebacker
Home Town: Grover, NC
Last year: Redshirted, but did appear in two games
Wilson was one of two linebackers Mizzou brought in last year and despite struggles at the position, the Tigers kept the redshirt on both him and Zach Lovett. There would seem to be more playing time available there this year, but with the addition of Ty'Ron Hopper, you never know. Wilson told me he's trying to make sure he's got a good grasp on the playbook and just do whatever he is asked to do. He specifically mentioned special teams as a way to get on the field. So I'm not sure you look for him in the rotation early on, but could definitely be a guy that helps out on coverage units and such.
Arden Walker
YR: RS Freshman
POS: Defensive End
Home Town: Denver, CO
Last year: Redshirted, but did appear in four games, making five tackles
Walker showed some flashes last year. Defensive ends coach Kevin Peoples said going into camp you would think that Isaiah McGuire and Trajan Jeffcoat will be the starters, but there are guys that can challenge. Obviously there's transfer DJ Coleman, but he mentioned Arden Walker as one of those guys as well. Walker last year was basically going off pure talent. He said he was happy to get a little bit of action, but his first year was more about adjusting to the college game.
"I think from just the IQ standpoint, like just really identifying like roles and then just like the defense and really learning the defense. I mean, it didn't take me long, but of course, just the speed of the game, it's totally different from high school, just really making that transition. So I kind of spent the year just really getting into that transition, I guess you could say."
Walker's a kid I'm going to keep my eye on this month. They really liked him coming out of high school and I think he's one of those guys who some people may have forgotten about who could give some quality reps this year even if he's unlikely to be a starter.
E.J. Ndoma-Ogar
YR: Sophomore
POS: Offensive Guard
Home Town: Allen, TX
Last year: Played in four games after transferring from Oklahoma.
Ndoma-Ogar was one of the guys that I thought we might see a little bit more of last year. There was some PT available when Case Cook went down, but Ndoma-Ogar really only got extended run in one or two games. Realistically, maybe I expected too much in year one as a transfer in just his second year of college on the offensive line. When I asked him how he assessed his first year, he said there were some things that Marcus Johnson really harped on him needing to do better. I asked specifically what he meant.
"Just seeing the bigger picture on the field, you know, coach Johnson has done a great job with all of us, helping us with things that people would really wouldn't normally see, you know, things to look out for or, you know, free play adjustments and things like that. So that was something I really needed help on. So Coach Johnson took that stuff he helped us with it."
I asked where he is this year compared to last year. He said he thinks "it's a night and day change. I feel like I'm a totally different football player."
Dominic Lovett
YR: Sophomore
POS: Wide Receiver
Home Town: East St. Louis, IL
Last year: Played in all 13 games, started six. Had 26 catches for 173 yards and four carries for 40 yards.
Lovett is a perfect example of a player maybe having better perspective than we do. Because I think if you asked most people, they'd say Lovett's first year left them wanting a little bit more. He played quite a bit, but it just seemed it would be a play or two early on and then his use really tailed off. You saw flashes, but you wanted to see more. But we forget, he was a true freshman. I asked Lovett what he thought of his first year.
"I would say I would be grateful considering that a lot of freshmen don't get to get on the field as a freshman or aren't forced to be on the field as a freshman. So me being out there were older guys and them pourting into me helping me grasp the game, I felt like that was big, so I would say unfortunate."
That's pretty good perspective for a young kid. He goes from being a superstar in high school to being a role player and he handles it perfectly. I asked if that was something he understood during the year or if there were times he was frustrated and he didn't really have that perspective until the offseason.
"I was able to understand it from the beginning, you know, coming from high school to college sometimes the toll road may be a little slower than what it was before. And you can't make it about yourself. It has to be about the team or nothing will get accomplished. So I learned that from Tauske, Barrett, Keke, the older guys, they just kept pouring into me and I would say my freshman year I was greatly thankful."
Lovett is probably going to be the most popular pick for a breakout player this season.
All of our fall camp coverage is brought to you by Quirk Hard Seltzer from Boulevard Brewing Company. Quirk Hard Seltzers are made with real fruit juice and ingredient-driven flavor combinations. Clean, high quality and gluten-free, Quirk is infinitely enjoyable and brimming with unpredictably individuality—it’s hard seltzer with more personality.
Last edited:
