Mizzou’s offense has slowed without Emanuel Hall. Tigers hope he can play at Florida

To find out whether Missouri star receiver Emanuel Hall will play Saturday for the first time in five weeks, it really depends on who you ask.

Offensive coordinator Derek Dooley wouldn’t speak definitively, but said if the 6-foot-3 wideout were to return for Missouri’s game at No. 13 Florida, expectations would be low.

“He’s been out a long time,” Dooley said. “So to think he’s going to be out there, even if he’s out there Saturday, look like he did week two it’s a little bit unfair for him.”

Mizzou coach Barry Odom didn’t say for sure either, but thought Hall “looked awesome” and that he remains cautious.

Then there’s Hall himself.

“He thinks he can go play the next four (games) right now,” Odom said.

While the answer will remain murky until Saturday, Hall’s return would do wonders for Missouri schematically and morally after the team’s devastating 15-14 loss to No. 9 Kentucky.

Hall has been out since Oct. 6 because of a groin injury and then was away from the team for a week after his father died. Missouri did not make him available to talk to reporters on Tuesday.

Fellow senior wideout Nate Brown had also missed four games because of a groin injury but returned on Saturday.

Brown said he injured his groin the Wednesday before Missouri’s game against Georgia on Sept. 22 and pulled it after a bad step.

He rooms with Hall and had admired the way his roommate has handled issues throughout the season.

“He’s been very professional about it. Approaching everything like nothing happened,” Brown said. “I can’t imagine upstairs what must be going around. He’s a strong individual.”

Through the first four games of the season, Hall looked like he was on pace to flirt with All-America honors.

Known mainly as a go-route runner last season, Hall showed off a full arsenal of routes and speed techniques early in the season and caught 18 passes for 430 yards and three touchdowns.

Before he got hurt, Missouri’s offense was averaging roughly 482 yards of total offense and 312 yards passing. Since he’s been out, those numbers have dropped to 399 yards and 230, respectively.

Missouri’s four-game stretch with Hall was easier than it’s been without him, and it shows the impact he had on the offense. MU went the entire second half against Kentucky without a first down and had its receivers tightly covered in the last two quarters.

A player like Hall might have been able to shake things up for Missouri when the Tigers had nothing cooking.

The Tigers have leaned on true freshman Jalen Knox to be the team’s No. 1 receiver in Hall’s absence and he’s delivered.

Knox was the Southeastern Conference freshman of the week after having five catches for a career-high 104 yards and a touchdown against Memphis.

“He did an exceptional job,” Brown said. “The hand he was dealt, he handled it like a man, like a vet.”

Hall’s status remains fluid, but given the Gators’ passing defense is No. 12 nationally, quarterback Drew Lock would love to have his favorite target back.

Odom has other resources he’s willing to resort to if it will speed things up.

“I’ve got holy water up in the office I’m going to throw it on him,” he said. “We’ll keep seeing how it goes.”

Alex Schiffer

Alex Schiffer covers University of Missouri athletics for The Star.

This story was originally published October 30, 2018 at 4:13 PM.