Here’s what we learned as Missouri football fully opened up its Friday practice

Most Missouri football practices open to reporters last about 40 minutes and include individual drills much more than anything that resembles a live game.

Not Friday, though.

Shortly after the Tigers began their 15th practice of fall camp, head coach Eli Drinkwitz offered reporters in attendance the opportunity to stay through the end of the nearly two-hour-long session.

That meant a glimpse into some true, situational football.

Here’s what we learned as the Tigers drew back the curtain:

Missouri football running backs are splitting reps

When the Tigers trotted out for 11-on-11, Georgia State transfer tailback Marcus Carroll was the first man in the backfield. A couple of downs later, Appalachian State transfer Nate Noel came in.

They swapped, they switched, they swapped again. They each ran routes and caught passes in the flat, and they each took carries.

So, here’s the takeaway: Both Noel and Carroll are going to play in 2024. How often each will feature is firmly in the to-be-determined category, but both players will see the field.

Jamal Roberts was the next man up out of the running back room, working with backup QB Drew Pyne and the second-team unit in live drills.

Elsewhere on the offense, the Tigers lined up with Marcus Bryant and Armand Membou as the left and right tackles, Cayden Green and Cam’Ron Johnson as the left and right guards and Connor Tollison at center.

Unsurprisingly, Luther Burden III, Theo Wease Jr. and Mookie Cooper were the first wide receivers on the field. When the Tigers went to a spread formation in 10 personnel — four wide receivers, no tight end, one running back — Mekhi Miller was the wideout added to the action. Daniel Blood, Joshua Manning and Marquis Johnson each took reps with the 2s, meaning Mizzou seems set to run with seven anytime options at receiver.

More: Projecting…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/learned-missouri-football-fully-opened-195251862.html

Author : Columbia Daily Tribune

Publish date : 2024-08-16 19:52:51

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