Missouri Tigers need a new quarterback. But who has the inside track to the job?

For the first time in a few years under coach Eli Drinkwitz, the Missouri Tigers football team finds itself in the midst of a legitimate competition at quarterback.

Since Brady Cook overtook the position from Connor Bazelak in 2022 — through a simple selection process in the fall — there haven’t been many questions at the all-important position.

Talk of Sam Horn might’ve stirred around Memorial Stadium in 2023, but the murmurs ended soon after Cook’s breakout performance in the Tigers’ 30-27 upset over then-No. 15 Kansas State on Sept. 16, 2023.

Now that Cook has graduated, much of the offseason has focused on finding a suitable replacement at the starting quarterback position. Drinkwitz has come down to two potential answers: one through the transfer portal and one already on the roster.

A couple of months removed from the Tigers’ season and home opener against Central Arkansas at 6:30 p.m. Aug 28., the final decision remains up in the air.

“Very excited about those two guys continuing to lead,” Drinkwitz said April 8 in a news conference. “Like I told them, from this point on, everything’s judged. ... All of it is going to help determine who becomes the next starting quarterback.”

Beau Pribula

One of Missouri’s biggest acquisitions of the offseason was former Penn State signal-caller Beau Pribula, who it quickly pursued with an announced transfer Dec. 22.

Stuck behind starter Drew Allar at Penn State, Pribula has a good case to be the Tigers’ next starter. In his sophomore campaign last season, he completed 26 of 35 passes for 275 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. He also stepped in for an injured Allar on Oct. 26 to finish out the Nittany Lions’ 28-13 road win against Wisconsin.

Pribula has made an impact on the ground throughout his career, rushing for 242 yards on 38 carries and four touchdowns last year. Even when he wasn’t actively in at quarterback, the Penn State utilized him in the rush.

With two years of eligibility remaining, the 6-foot-2, 207-pound junior could be Missouri’s starter for the next two seasons. As little time as he’s spent with the program compared to much of the roster, he’s picked the system up rather quickly.

“Beau was every bit what we expected. ... In fact, I think he was a better passer than we had anticipated,” Drinkwitz said. “I knew Beau would (take a bit to fully learn) the offense but I was impressed with how much he’s already understanding it and knew it and grabbed a hold of it.”

Through spring practice, Pribula performed to a high standard. Drinkwitz cited his leadership, dynamic run game and sound decision making as traits he’s already showcased.

Pribula certainly wasn’t the only quarterback the Tigers had their eye on in the portal, but his fit is familiar.

Cook was consistently featured on designed run plays throughout his college career, which could become a mainstay again for the Missouri offense if Pribula is named the official starter.

On the outside, Pribula seems to be the favorite to land the job, though nothing is set in stone until the summer period reaches its conclusion.

Sam Horn

Horn isn’t new to Columbia.

This will be his fourth year with the Tigers, coming in as a redshirt junior and having his first real opportunity at becoming a starter. His last appearance was Nov. 24, 2023, in a 48-14 road win over Arkansas (he threw just one pass).

It’s been a tumultuous time for the former four-star recruit, undergoing Tommy John surgery to repair a torn UCL in February 2024. That not only kept him out of action from baseball, but football last season.

The Lawrenceville, Georgia, product found a way to get back on the mound in 2025; however, striking out 14 batters in a limited 10⅔ innings of action last season. Now, in good health, Horn is in the right position to bring competition to the future of the quarterback room.

“Sam (Horn’s) always been a guy that the guys get along with and (he’s) been a great teammate, now it’s just his opportunity to compete for the job and adopt some of those things that Brady (Cook) did really well from a leadership standpoint,” Drinkwitz said. “But also, just be him. ... He knows what it looks like, and has that leadership and confidence, and I think he put that on display.”

In a college football landscape with lots of player movement, Horn sticking with Missouri for this long shows the determination he’s brought. Sitting behind Cook for multiple years could’ve discouraged him, yet his mindset remained unchanged.

Even if Pribula wins out the competition, it doesn’t necessarily put Horn out of question to see the field in 2025. The starter has to be supported by his peers — a point of emphasis that Drinkwitz has made.

“You can either get disenfranchised and bitter, or you can embrace your role as a teammate,” Drinkwitz said. “I think Sam really did that for the last two years, even in his injury. ... We traveled Sam the last six weeks of the season, just so he could continue to be around the team and know what it looks like to be on the road as a quarterback.”

All of the learning experiences and tribulations could finally pay off for Horn, but the next couple of months will be crucial in making his final case.

The future starter?

Pribula and Horn are the only two quarterbacks in the competition for the Tigers’ starting job, but incoming freshman Matt Zollers will be a name to monitor.

It was unrealistic for Zollers to start the 2025 season to begin with, though it could happen sooner than expected given his background as a four-star recruit and the No. 9 quarterback in his class, per 247Sports.

At Spring-Ford High School. in Royersford, Pennsylvania, Zollers put up 2,917 passing yards on 182 completions and three touchdowns in his junior campaign — his most complete year. He added 420 rushing yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.

Zollers’ senior season was cut short due to a broken left ankle, but that hasn’t stymied anticipation about his future with Missouri. In four games, he still threw 54 passes for 611 passing yards and three touchdowns and he has since been on the path to a full recovery.

“I was very impressed with Matt Zollers,” Drinkwitz said. “There was a time in the first of his injuries where we didn’t think he would be released for spring practice, but he did an excellent job.

“I know that every bit of arm talent, natural leadership ability, athleticism (and) play-making ability is there and look forward to watching him develop.”

Behind the two quarterbacks in front of him, Zollers will have a year to learn and grown within the Tigers’ offensive system while continuing to work on his body and ankle. In the long run, that could prepare him for a bigger fight for the starting job in 2026.

In the meantime, Missouri will seemingly opt for a more experienced player to lead the charge to what those around the team hope will be a return to the College Football Playoff.

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