‘Nothing’s given, everything’s earned:’ MU opens Drinkwitz era with spring practice
When the Missouri football team took the field for its first spring practice on Saturday, a few Tigers wore blank jerseys as they went through the roughly two-hour practice.
That decision was intentional, Mizzou coach Eliah Drinkwitz said. Those without a number included the six new scholarship players — four early enrollees, a graduate transfer and a junior college transfer — along with any new walk-ons.
“Nothing’s given, everything’s earned,” Drinkwitz said. “They haven’t earned a number yet. They’ll get to earn a number once the position coach and position group determines they’ve done enough. Whether it’s through effort, pride and making plays.”
The Drinkwitz era began Saturday with the commencement of spring practice. It was the first time players and coaches interacted on the practice field. Drinkwitz pointed out how they could “see guys react to coaching.”
“It’s great seeing new faces come into the spring,” said running back Larry Rountree III, a captain last year. “We have a couple freshmen here. I’m going to be a senior, it’s a little weird, different.”
It’s a long process as the Tigers made it through their first of 15 allotted spring practices. While there will be shades of similarity on defense with coordinator Ryan Walters returning, the offense will be run with Drinkwitz’s new scheme.
But that’ll take time to incorporate during spring ball, summer workouts and fall camp.
“It’s going to be really slow,” Drinkwitz said. “We have the foundation we’re going to put in. It’s about a six-day install. We’ll repeat it as many times as we can. We’re a game plan specific offense. Each game’s a little different looks, but it always relies back on the foundation.”
There was some semblance of a first and second team in practice. Quarterback Shawn Robinson got a number of looks with the first string, while Taylor Powell took second-team reps.
Connor Bazelak, who tore his ACL in the 2019 season finale at Arkansas, was in attendance Saturday but didn’t go through practice. He had a brace on his right knee as he watched from the sideline.
There were other configurations, but Drinkwitz said they have not made a decision on the starting quarterback — or anywhere else. That won’t be known after spring practices are over either.
“There’s no No. 1 quarterback,” Drinkwitz said. “There’s no No. 1s on anything. It’s a new team, it’s a new coaching staff. I told our guys, there’s no starting positions out of spring. I don’t care how good you play in the spring. In August, we’ll determine who plays.”
Mizzou’s next spring practice is on Monday. The Tigers will continue until the annual spring game on April 11.
“That’s what you get paid to do,” Drinkwitz said. “Get in here and watch tape and figure out how we can improve. What scheme can we use to give our guys an advantage.”
Early injury updates
Mizzou was without a few players on Saturday, including tight end Daniel Parker Jr., wide receiver Maurice Massey and linebacker Cameron Wilkins.
Massey and Wilkins should be fine going forward, they just weren’t out on the practice field. But with Parker, an eye infection will likely keep him out this spring, Drinkwitz said.
“If a guy’s injured and can’t participate in practice, they do special forces training in the indoor or in the weight room to try to speed up the recovery,” Drinkwitz said. “Both of those guys (Massey and Wilkins), everything’s normal.”