Mizzou football’s KC-area kicker returns from injury rehab: ‘It’s a blessing’

One of the first things the Missouri Tigers’ football team did during a midweek spring practice Tuesday was attempt some field goals.

Kicker Blake Craig stood around the 10-yard line, drilling try after try.

The kicks were short, so one could argue that success was to be expected. But for Craig, the former Liberty North High standout, just being out there was a win.

“I feel stronger than ever,” he said. “It’s a blessing to be back out there with the guys, and the spring has been amazing so far.”

Craig tore the ACL in his planting leg during Mizzou’s 2025 season opener against Central Arkansas. The injury derailed his season, sidelining him for the entire year.

This week he opened up about the struggles he faced during the immediate aftermath of the injury. He said he tried not to dwell on it, taking the first day to feel it out before attempting to move forward.

“It was definitely something surreal that I’ve never experienced before,” he said. “Growing up, I was never hurt, and I’m like, ‘I’ll never be hurt.’ Seeing my family and things like that was a little bit upsetting, but I think that 24-hour period changed my life for the better.”

Even though Craig spent the majority of the 2025 campaign on the sideline, he maintained a positive attitude. He is carrying that outlook with him through spring camp in Columbia, saying the adversity he endured fostered growth.

Still, there is always room to improve.

“I don’t want to make it seem like I’m anywhere below where I was before,” Craig said. “If anything, I’m at the same point, if not better. I’m just trying to improve that consistency.”

His rehab process has consisted of working with the team’s trainers to get his strength and explosiveness back up to par. Aside from the physical elements of recovery, a big obstacle has been overcoming a mental block.

“It’s more mental than anything,” Craig said. “It’s that mental barrier of, ‘Can I do this?’”

Physically, Craig revealed that he feels “100%.” He hasn’t been kicking off during spring practices, but he is participating in every other way.

While Craig would love to be Missouri’s starter in 2026, and is projected to be, it might not be that simple. The Tigers did add kicker Brunno Reus from Florida State to their roster, and Craig is anticipating a competition.

“He’s a very good specialist overall. Combo guy and everything,” Craig said of Reus. “Obviously, the kickoff job is competitive. I’m ready to compete for that, though, and I believe that I can do it. I’m not going to shy away from that.”

Another new member of the special teams unit is coordinator John Papuchis, who also came from FSU and was hired by Mizzou on Dec. 31. He chose to work at Missouri for several reasons, one being the opportunity to work with Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz.

When Drinkwitz was the offensive coordinator at NC State, Papuchis was the defensive coordinator at North Carolina. Thus, Papuchis has always admired Drinkwitz from afar.

“I’ve been following what’s been taking place here at Mizzou,” Papuchis said. “When the opportunity presented itself, I was going to jump on it. I admire what (Drinkwitz has) built here, and having the opportunity to work with him is terrific.”

Papuchis appreciates that Drinkwitz has already emphasized the importance of special teams, because, for him, it cannot be overstated. Emphasizing special teams is not just important for Mizzou as a whole; it’s important for the individual players looking to increase their value, which is something NFL scouts look for.

One way to get involved with special teams is through coverage and return units. Throughout the spring, the Tigers have utilized many different players in the return game, with Papuchis shouting out wideouts DaMarion Fowlkes, Cayden Lee, Shaun Terry II, Donovan Olugbode and Naeshaun Montgomery.

“I’m excited about that group,” Papuchis said. “I think whoever it ends up being is going to be a weapon for us and have a chance to be a game-changer.”

The other major part of special teams is, of course, kicking.

Craig has enjoyed working with Papuchis, saying he likes the new hire. And the respect goes both ways.

“Blake was really the first person I met in terms of the players and specialists because he was doing some rehab work when I got here,” Papuchis said. “Right off the bat, we hit it off. He’s super talented, (and) he has an unselfishness and a team mindset to him.”

While Craig’s work ethic and character are evident, his role as the starting kicker is less certain. Reus brings added versatility to Mizzou that could make him an important piece of the unit this season.

Right now, competition isn’t necessarily on Craig’s mind. The special teams lineup won’t be fully fleshed out for a while, so he’s focusing on the present.

“Every day I get to go out there and do this for the university that I grew up watching, (and) it’s amazing,” he said. “I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

Copyright 2026 Columbia Missourian.