What will Mizzou football’s depth chart look like in season opener? Our final prediction
After 15 open practices, including one scrimmage and an open-to-fans walkthrough on Faurot Field, Mizzou football’s starting lineup is a much clearer picture than it was when players reported in late July.
Some positions — looking at you, quarterback — still remain up in the air, but beyond that, there is enough info to predict the Tigers’ depth chart.
When Missouri lines up against South Dakota to open its season Aug. 31 on home turf, here is who the Tribune expects to be MU’s starters and backups.
Quarterback
The starters: Brady Cook, jr.; Sam Horn, r-fr.
The reserves: Jake Garcia, r-so.; Gabarri Johnson, fr.; Dylan Laible, jr.
Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz said Saturday that Cook and Horn will split reps in the opening game. Nothing through camp has suggested anyone other than Cook will take the first snap, but after that … open season.
The starter when Southeastern Conference play rolls around in Week 5 is too close to call at this point, but the race appears to be down to two players.
Running back
The starter: Cody Schrader, gr.
The reserves: Nathaniel Peat, gr.; Jamal Roberts, fr.; Tavorus Jones, r-fr.; Michael Cox, so.
Drinkwitz kept it succinct — whoever between Schrader and Peat has the hottest hands will line up in the backfield. Camp reps suggest Schrader will trot out first, but Peat ought to feature frequently.
Beyond that, both tailbacks are in their final year of eligibility, meaning Mizzou must develop some players behind them sooner rather than later. Expect Roberts, especially, to take some reps in relief after an eye-opening first training camp.
Wide receivers
The starters: Slot: Luther Burden III, so.; X: Theo Wease Jr. sr.; Z: Mookie Cooper, jr.
The reserves: Mehki Miller, so.; Dannis Jackson, jr.; Peanut Houston, r-sr.; Daniel Blood, fr.; Joshua Manning, fr.; Marquis Johnson, fr.
The trio of Burden, Wease and Cooper has been the Tigers’ most oft-used throughout camp, but with the depth they have behind them, expect some different looks and lineups.
Miller will likely play the most downs behind the preeminent three. Jackson and Houston give new offensive coordinator Kirby Moore some speed to work with.
Tight end
The starter: Tyler Stephens, sr.
The reserves: Brett Norfleet, fr.; Jordon Harris, fr.; Ryan Hoerstkamp, r-so.; Max Whisner, r-fr.
Drinkwitz was pretty clear: True freshmen Norfleet and Harris are in line for starting opportunities. They’ll have to move ahead of Stephens on the depth chart for significant gametime, however, as the senior has appeared most often with the 1s in camp.
Mizzou is in desperate need of improved blocking and pass-catching out of the position this season. Whether that comes from the first-years remains to be seen, but they will get their chance.
Offensive line
The starters: LT: Javon Foster, gr.; LG: Xavier Delgado, gr.; C: Connor Tollison, so.; RG: Cam’Ron Johnson, jr.; RT: Armand Membou, so.
The reserves: Marcellus Johnson, gr.; Valen Ericksson, r-fr.; EJ Ndoma-Ogar, jr.; Bence Polgar, sr.
After some chopping and changing along the right side of the line, the starting five appears to be set.
Tollison has won the competition to snap, stifling a challenge from Houston transfer Cam’Ron Johnson. Membou started camp at right guard but is back at right tackle to allow Johnson to slot in at his natural position on the interior. Foster and Delgado likely will be mainstays.
Marcellus Johnson will likely be the first man in at both guard and tackle. Beyond that, the head coach is still searching for a seventh and eighth lineman to emerge.
Defensive end
The starters: Darius Robinson, gr.; Johnny Walker Jr., jr.
The reserves: Nyles Gaddy, gr.; Joe Moore, jr.; Austin Firestone, r-fr; DJ Wesolak, r-fr.; Jakhai Lang, fr.
Robinson and Walker are in line to start against the Coyotes, but this position will rotate frequently.
Moore and Gaddy are two promising gets out of the transfer portal, and Firestone was a towering figure when the Tigers’ second- and third-string teams scrimmaged last Friday, strip-sacking Gabarri Johnson and taking it back for a touchdown.
While depth at this position was a question at the beginning of camp, it emerges out the other end looking solid.
Defensive tackle
The starters: Kristian Williams, sr.; Realus George Jr., gr.
The reserves: Jayden Jernigan, sr.; Josh Landry, gr.; Darius Robinson, gr.; Marquis Gracial, r-fr.
Oh, the wonders of the transfer portal.
Williams, a second-year Oregon transfer, and George, a third-year JUCO transfer, provide an experienced, productive interior. Jernigan, a second-year Oklahoma State transfer, and Landry, a second-year Baylor transfer, will sub in often.
This stands to be among Missouri’s deepest, most experienced units this season, especially with Robinson splitting reps between the edge and his natural spot on the interior.
Linebackers
The starters: Will: Ty’Ron Hopper, sr.; Mike: Chad Bailey, gr.
The reserves: Dameon Wilson, so.; Tristan Newson, jr.; Chuck Hicks, gr.
Hopper and Bailey would make a formidable pairing as the 2 in defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s 4-2-5 formation.
But Bailey has been dealing with a lingering injury through camp, which appears to have him day-to-day. Assuming he’s good to go, he’ll start. If he can’t suit up against South Dakota, Wilson has impressed the coaches and taken enough reps with the first team in camp to slot in at middle linebacker.
Cornerbacks
The starters: Ennis Rakestraw Jr., jr.; Kris Abrams-Draine, jr.
The reserves: Marcus Clarke, sr.; Dreyden Norwood, r-so.; Shamar McNeil, fr.
Rakestraw and Abrams-Draine shape up to be among the best corner duos in the conference, and therefore the country, this season. It will, all going smoothly, likely be their final year in Columbia before the NFL comes calling.
Clarke and Norwood, who transferred to the Tigers out of Miami and Texas A&M, respectively, are excellent depth options.
Safeties
The starters: Strong/rover: Jaylon Carlies, sr.; Free: Joseph Charleston, sr.; Star: Daylan Carnell, so.
The reserves: Sidney Williams, jr.; Tre’Vez Johnson, jr.; Marvin Burks Jr., fr.
Experience and depth aplenty headlines the safeties — a common theme in the Tigers’ secondary in 2023.
Carlies, barring an injury that has kept him out of significant portions of camp, will start alongside Charleston. Carnell showed his talent at star behind Martez Manuel last season, and appears to be the heir-apparent to the unique job on Baker’s defense.
Burks, a St. Louis product out of Cardinal Ritter, shapes up for some reps behind Carlies as a true freshman, while Florida transfer Tre’Vez Johnson and Florida State transfer Williams look extremely capable as part of the rotation.
Specialists
The starters: Placekicker: Harrison Mevis, sr.; Kickoff: Mevis; Punter: Luke Bauer, so.; Long-snapper: Brett Le Blanc, fr.
Punter was about the only position seriously up for debate throughout camp, and there’s every chance Towson transfer and Australian Riley Williams hoofs the Tigers’ first punt upfield. Luke Bauer appeared to be taking more and more reps as camp progressed, however, giving him the edge in this list.
Mevis will add kickoff duties to his job title this season. Blake Craig, a talented freshman out of Kansas City, looks set to back him up on both of those fronts.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: What will Mizzou's depth chart look like in season opener? Our final prediction
