Missouri Tigers’ quarterback competition heating up as training camp continues
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- Quarterback contest remains open as Horn and Pribula show comparable output
- Offensive line rotations continue as injuries prompt depth chart adjustments
- Defense leads with linebacker play while special teams show return promise
With the Missouri Tigers’ season and home opener just a few weeks away now, Saturday afternoon featured the second scrimmage of fall camp.
Mizzou football coach Eliah Drinkwitz followed the intrasquad clash with his second news conference since the beginning of camp July 28.
Here’s a rundown of the most interesting storylines to follow more than halfway through fall camp as Missouri prepares to host Central Arkansas at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 28 at Memorial Stadium.
No clear separation in quarterback battle
The quarterback competition remains tight, both graduate Beau Pribula and redshirt junior Sam Horn continuing to split reps.
Although neither signal-caller showed significant separation, Drinkwitz praised their performances, particularly for avoiding turnovers — a notable improvement from the first scrimmage Aug. 2.
Both quarterbacks had flashes of brilliance, including a late-game drive from Pribula that ended in a touchdown pass to redshirt freshman wide receiver James Madison II and a Horn-led penultimate drive that resulted in a field goal attempt.
“I was really looking to see if we had some separation today, and, honestly, I just didn’t see it,” Drinkwitz said. “They’re both playing really good football right now, and we’ll keep the battle going.”
The left tackle competition
The offensive line continues to experiment with different combinations, particularly in light of injuries.
Center Connor Tollison, who has been a starter for four years, and safety Jalen Catalon were held out of the scrimmage as a precaution. Both graduates have played significant college football, and Drinkwitz noted it wasn’t worth risking them in a scrimmage.
“I think we’re making strides (at offensive line),” Drinkwitz said. “Still trying to figure out the best five, but I feel like we’ve got the right pieces in place.”
The coach also hinted at potential adjustments to the starting lineup next week. The left tackle position, in particular, could see a change.
Redshirt junior Jayven Richardson has been getting reps with the first team throughout fall camp, but Drinkwitz quickly suggested that the Tigers will try different personnel at left tackle next week to shake things up.
Defensive and special teams standouts
Defensively, Mizzou’s linebackers, led by Khalil Jacobs, continued to impress with their physicality and leadership.
The senior made several key plays and had a strong performance in the backed-up situations that Drinkwitz highlighted as a positive development. Jacobs has received praise from Drinkwitz and his teammates regarding his leadership throughout camp.
On special teams, senior Kevin Coleman Jr. is emerging as the primary punt returner.
While the coverage unit still has room for improvement, Drinkwitz is optimistic about its potential.
“We’ve done a really good job with our punt return team,” Drinkwitz said.
He also noted that he was pleased with graduate punter Connor Weselman, who delivered two strong punts during Saturday’s scrimmage.
Improvements across the board
In general, Drinkwitz pointed to several areas of improvement from the first scrimmage, particularly on third downs and the ability to generate scoring drives.
“We were really bad on third downs last time, but we saw some big-time improvement in that area,” Drinkwitz said. “That’s a big step forward.”
The defensive line also saw solid contributions, with players like redshirt freshman Justin Bodford and graduate Bralen Henderson making impactful plays.
Drinkwitz emphasized the Tigers’ progress in run defense and the ability to get penetration, a key factor in their ability to disrupt the offense.
Ahead this week for MU
After an off-day Sunday, the team was planning to focus on execution this coming week. Drinkwitz stressed the need for consistency and attention to detail as Mizzou nears the final stretch of camp.
“Next week is all about execution,” Drinkwitz said. “We’ve got to figure out who’s going to be consistent.”
As for the quarterback competition, he noted that with just more than two weeks left before the season opener, the battle will continue. But a decision will need to come soon.
“We’ve got to clean up the execution,” Drinkwitz said, “especially in the backed-up situations.”
With a lot still up in the air, the Tigers look to use the final weeks of camp to solidify roles and sharpen their focus as the 2025 season draws near.
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