How Mizzou football's training camp offensive depth chart looks in first week of practice

Through three open practices, some of Missouri’s offense was beginning to take shape.

Mizzou football is settled into training camp, and the first three days — each open to media for approximately 40 minutes before a closed session Thursday — offered clues to some of the biggest questions at camp in Columbia.

Here’s a glimpse at who Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz and new offensive coordinator Kirby Moore have been playing with the first- and second-team offenses through the first week of training camp.

More: How Brady Cook's healed shoulder and earned experience factor into Mizzou's QB battle

Quarterback

1. Brady Cook

2. Sam Horn -or- Jake Garcia

Cook has had most of his practice reps with the Tigers’ returning starters. He’s recovered from his offseason surgery. He was identified as the man to beat before camp.

As of Day 3, he was leading.

Don’t call the swing states just yet though. Horn looks far more ready to compete in the Southeastern Conference than he did one year ago. Garcia has shown tremendous arm talent.

Gabarri Johnson is an intriguing prospect, too. The four-star summer has all the tools to make a coach very happy to have him on board, but turn your textbooks to page Horn, 2022 — freshman struggle to keep pace without the bonus reps of the spring.

Offensive Line

Left Tackle

1. Javon Foster

2. MaKyi Lee

Left Guard

1. Xavier Delgado

2. Tristan Wilson

Center

1. Connor Tollison

2. Cam’Ron Johnson

Right Guard

1. Armand Membou

2. EJ Ndoma-Ogar

Right Tackle

1. Marcellus Johnson

2. Valen Erickson

New offensive line coach Brandon Jones told the Tribune on Sunday that he plans to experiment with the lineup in camp. That being said, the first hints from practice didn’t draw much shock and awe.

When the Tigers lined up inside their own five-yard line for a drill Wednesday, audible shouts of “1s” and “2s” put the players in the order listed above.

The left side of the line is more than likely set in stone. Foster and Delgado are experienced in the Southeastern Conference, and barring a major surprise will not lose out to their young challengers.

All the players to the right of those two? Open season.

“I think it's the deepest offensive line that we've had,” Drinkwitz said. “There's probably eight to nine guys that end up being starters.”

Jones has seen Cam’Ron Johnson succeed at guard while coaching him at Houston but said he was open to moving the transfer to the middle. Drinkwitz said he’ll closely watch how well he can snap. The head coach added that Tollison could suit up at tackle. Coaches have expressed intrigue in redshirt freshman Erickson as well as junior Ndoma-Ogar, who spent much of last season injured.

Wide Receivers

Slot

1. Luther Burden

2. Mehki Miller

X

1. Theo Wease Jr.

2. Demariyon “Peanut” Houston

Z

1. Mookie Cooper

2. Dannis Jackson

There’s a lot less to go off at receiver due to the lack of live-game reps in the open portions of practice so far.

Burden’s spot in the slot, barring any major disruption, is a lock.

But the room is so deep and varied that the rest of the roles are very much case-by-case and subject to change as the days tick on.

“Who are gonna be those guys that continue to take the next steps? I’ll know a little bit more after a week and two weeks and obviously as we kind of work closer to our first game,” MU wide receivers coach Jacob Peeler said Sunday. “But I think that’s the golden question that I wanna answer myself.

More: 5 Mizzou wideouts - aside from Luther Burden - who could make an impact in 2023

Running back

1. Cody Schrader -or- Nathaniel Peat

2. Tavorus Jones

In open practice, Schrader has most frequently run with Cook; Peat with Horn; Jones with Garcia.

Drinkwitz said that Schrader and Peat will compete for the lion’s share of carries, but a host of challengers include Jones, Michael Cox and true freshman Jamal Roberts.

The coaching staff has put an emphasis on finding creative ways to involve the group in the passing game.

“Last year I think Cody demonstrated the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield,” Drinkwitz said. “So did Nate. Jamal Roberts has some pretty good hands from what we've seen in June. So we'll see how that progresses.”

Tight ends

1. Tyler Stephens

2. Ryan Hoerstkamp -or- Max Whisner -or- Tucker Miller

If any true freshmen are challenging for significant reps, it’s Brett Norfleet and Jordon Harris. The new duo look game-ready standing a strong 6-7 and 6-6, respectively.

“I'm excited that Brett's here,” Drinkwitz said. “I know Brett's excited to be here and I don't want to put any undue expectations on him. We want him to be the best version of himself. … But both him and Jordon have done a really nice job this summer.”

But for now, the edge goes to the returners based on early reps.

In the same drill that offered a glimpse at the offensive line’s potential five starters, Stephens suited up with the 1s. Redshirt freshman Tucker Miller, who made no appearances in 2022, also took the field with Stephens.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football: How the offensive depth chart looks after one week