As Missouri Tigers football wraps up spring practice, coach is making assessments

The Missouri Tigers football team held a spring practice followed by an interview session with reporters on Wednesday at the Stephens Indoor Facility.

Mizzou head coach Eli Drinkwitz, running back Ahmad Hardy and safety Santana Banner offered insight into how the spring unfolded.

Drinkwitz stepped to the microphone first, and he made one thing clear in his opening statement: While he's happy with the way the Tigers have been progressing, they’re still searching for consistency.

"It's been a productive spring for us. I've been very proud of our guys," Drinkwitz said. "What we're searching for (is) consistency. There have been a lot of flashes, but we've got to be consistent from every position."

Drinkwitz emphasized a desire to see players make routine plays, routine checks and maintain gap integrity. He also acknowledged that everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, saying it's all about playing to their advantages while limiting errors.

"You don't have to do anything special," Banner said. "Just do your job … That's taking no plays off, playing with elite edge and, really, just being a dog."

As the players try to ramp up their consistency, player development has been the other main focus of spring camp. Two players who made big impressions were Ole Miss transfers Cayden Lee and Chris Graves Jr.

Lee could be one of the top receiving options entering the 2026 season after racking up 1,623 receiving yards and seven touchdowns during his three years in Oxford, Mississippi. Lee seems primed to serve as apunt returner, taking reps as the potential starter in every practice.

"He doesn't talk. He'll just give you a nod," Banner said. "But he comes out here every day just hauling."

Graves has been the other player who has impressed his new teammates, using his speed and quick feet to be in the right place at the right time. He has performed well for a secondary that has undergone major change from a season ago.

"He's a dog," Banner said. "He comes out every day, same person, same intensity, just coming out [and] making plays."

One of the returning players highlighted by Drinkwitz was Curtis Peagler on the offensive line. Peagler started at right guard last season but struggled in several games, finishing the year with a 64.4 PFF offensive grade that ranked fourth out of the five starting linemen.

"Curtis Peagler had probably the most impressive performance so far," Drinkwitz said. "(He is) somebody that I've been really proud of."

Another player who has made a strong impression with the staff and his teammates has been defensive end Darris Smith. While playing behind Zion Young and Damon Wilson II, Smith still saw action in all 13 games, with 16 total tackles and four sacks. With both of the previous players departing the program, Smith is now in a prime position to become the top edge rusher, a position that has been a strength for the Tigers in recent seasons.

"I think Darris has done an excellent job putting on the weight that he's supposed to," Drinkwitz said. "He's developing his skills as a pass rusher. He's always been a violent player in the run game."

The Tigers have announced that defensive tackle Elias Williams and offensive tackle Josh Atkins are out with leg injuries, with no further details released. Drinkwitz is unsure of when they will return, but he estimated it could be as late as September or October.

Without Atkins, who was in the running to be Missouri's starting right tackle, the offensive line is sure to look different. According to Drinkwitz, Mizzou has spent much of spring shifting guys around to different spots.

Dominick Giudice missed some time, which allowed players to gain experience in different spots. Logan Reichert and Luke Work have been playing right tackle, while Tristan Wilson and Whit Hafer have been at center. That has allowed Zach Owens to take reps at left guard.

"Spring is all about individual player development," Drinkwitz said. "We're not so worried about where everybody fits right now."

Copyright 2026 Columbia Missourian

This story was originally published March 18, 2026 at 8:06 PM with the headline "As Missouri Tigers football wraps up spring practice, coach is making assessments."