Missouri Tigers’ starting left tackle, right guard need to be ‘settled’ in camp

As Mizzou football coach Eliah Drinkwitz took the podium for the first time to open up fall camp, it was no surprise that the quarterback competition drew most of the conversation.

All eyes are on returner Sam Horn and Penn State transfer Beau Pribula — though true freshman Matt Zollers has perhaps inserted himself into the battle.

The quarterback position might not actually be the one Drinkwitz is most worried about finalizing, despite the buzz surrounding it. It’s actually the offensive line, and more specifically, the left tackle and right guard positions.

“That is probably the bigger competition that we’ve got to get settled, because you got five people operating on the same page,” Drinkwitz said Sunday in a news conference. “The good news is Connor (Tollison) is going to be playing next to Cayden (Green), so there’s come camaraderie there. ... The left tackle is not necessarily on an island.”

There hasn’t been a question as to whethre Connor Tollison and Cayden Green are going to start for the Tigers. Tollison will continue to be the center as he comes off knee surgery, while Green is expected to be one of the Southeastern Conference’s top performing left guards during the 2025 campaign.

Keagan Trost earned his right to the starting right tackle spot in the spring.

Throughout fall camp, the emphasis is primarily going to be on everyone else to fill in the two gaps before the Tigers’ season and home opener against Central Arkansas at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 28.

Tollison will be slowly working his way back to 100% before then, but offensive line coach Brandon Jones doesn’t need further proof of what he brings to the center spot.

“I just know he’s on schedule,” Jones said in a one-on-one interview with the Missourian. “I think there’s some stuff we just go to be smart and keep him out of. He’s played the most snaps on the offensive line so we kind of know what we have there, gives some guys other opportunities to develop and get some of those meaningful snaps.”

One of those guys is going to be West Virginia transfer Johnny Williams IV, who Drinkwitz announced as the No. 1 starter in the left tackle competition during fall camp. This doesn’t mean he will for sure win out the starting spot — returner Jayven Richardson will certainly also be gunning for it — but it makes him the guy to beat.

Florida State transfer Jaylen Early was expected to be more involved in the left tackle race, but Drinkwitz will start him out with the guard positions. It’s a spot with which Early is plenty familiar, which may help him ease into a new system.

“We’re going to start actually getting (Early) in the guard position, just getting him comfortable because he’s got about 350 snaps in his career at guard, and I don’t want to make him too uncomfortable early, since he’s just new to the situation,” Drinkwitz said. “We’ll just see how he’s competing for the job.”

Michigan transfer Dominick Giudice and returner Logan Reichert are going to be two heavy competitors for the starting right guard spot, but there’s positional versatility across the board to also compete against Williams at left tackle. There are several who could make their case; it’s just about who stands out the most.

Missouri’s offensive line has more than a few question marks that will have to be answered in fall camp. It is perhaps the most complex position group in terms of variables and possibilities, so it will be one of the more important storylines to watch as the season approaches.

Norfleet’s time to break out?

Drinkwitz has talked about emphasizing the tight end position more in Mizzou’s offense, and this might be the year to do it.

The Tigers are getting back returning player Brett Norfleet to lead the group, and he is well-equipped to take a leap this year.

Norfleet’s 2024 campaign was hindered by a nagging shoulder injury, culminating in surgery ahead of the Music City Bowl in December. He finished the season with 235 yards and two touchdowns on 26 receptions — not exactly reaching the expectations placed on him before the season.

Now with the injury behind him, Norfleet is prepared to be a bigger target than in years past. Competition among Mizzou’s pass-catching group is a lot more open than it was just last season, so he could assert himself as a main option for either Pribula, Horn or Zollers.

“I kind of got cleared four months ago, feeling good about where I’m at,” Norfleet said in a one-on-one interview with the Missourian. “I’ve added about 15-ish pounds from where I ended playing Arkansas. ... I’m ready to get back out there with my teammates.”

Alongside Norfleet, returner Jordon Harris will also be a viable option at tight end, particularly as a blocker. Iowa transfer Gavin Hoffman, Colorado State transfer Vince Brown ll and returner Jude James will also be in the mix, adding increased depth to the position.

With that many options, the Tigers’ tight ends should see more action. As long as he stays healthy, Norfleet should lead the charge. It all comes down to whether he can be reliable.

“As far as in the pass game, we would love to see those guys be more involved, especially down the field, but sometimes coverage dictates that too,” Drinkwitz said. “So we’ve gotta create matchups. Those guys gotta be consistent in catching the football, consistent route runners, and we’ll see how that kind of comes along.”

No matter what his junior campaign entails, Norfleet plans to stay the course. He’ll keep a “team-first” mindset, rather than focusing on individual success. Results come first — not simply his own accolades.

“Whatever we have to do to win, I’m almost 100% sure that’s what we’re going to do,” Norfleet said. “If that has me catching the ball, great, if it has me putting my hand in the dirt, great. But we’re all here to win.”

On QB Sam Horn’s Dodgers deal

Hours after talking with reporters ahead of camp, Drinkwitz received news that redshirt-junior quarterback Horn — who was a right-handed pitcher for Mizzou baseball, too — had officially signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for $497,500, per Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline.

This comes after Horn was selected by the Dodgers with the No. 525 overall pick in the 17th round of the 2025 MLB Draft on July 14.

Horn’s place in Mizzou’s quarterback competition isn’t going to change because of the deal. He is still eligible to play for the Tigers and has made his intentions clear to still pursue the starting QB job after he was selected. The redshirt junior won’t make his transition to the Dodgers until after the conclusion of the 2025 season.

“BIG TIME!!,” Drinkwitz wrote in a post on X. “Now, let’s play some football!!”

Earlier in the day, Horn said signing a baseball contract was still under consideration. The deadline for doing so was Monday afternoon, so the clock was ticking for the QB/pitcher to make his decision.

For now, Horn’s focus remains on winning out the starting quarterback job for the Tigers. And if his signing showed anything, it’s that the spot is still anyone’s to take.

“At the end of the day, it’s what’s going to be best for the team,” Horn said. “So, we’re working together, but at the same time, it’s a competition. ... We’re working to better ourselves, but we want to better the team in the process.”

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