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Missouri Tigers Face Issues at Running Back Against Connecticut

By Patrick Karraker

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After many years of relying on a vertical passing attack to ignite their offense, it’s safe to say that the Missouri Tigers have been more of a run-based team over the past couple years. Along with the need to prevent the overexposure of a receiving corps that has been wholly turned over in two straight seasons, the Tigers have played to the strengths of quarterback Maty Mauk, who is very mobile but isn’t exactly the most accurate passer in the world. This week, though, Mauk may have to become the face of Mizzou’s rushing attack, because the options at running back aren’t very intriguing.

Starter Russell Hansbrough, who led the Tigers last year with 1,084 rushing yards, has already been declared out for Saturday’s game against Connecticut. Hansbrough tried to play through a sprained ankle last week against Arkansas State, but he ended up being shut down after rushing five times for 15 yards. Mauk was actually the Tigers’ leading rusher against the Red Wolves, carrying the ball 10 times for 75 yards.

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This week, true sophomore Ish Witter will get the start for the Tigers, though it’s debatable how much Mizzou will be able to get out of him. Witter ran 11 times for a single-game-high 44 yards against Arkansas State, but he’s untested overall at the collegiate level. Witter had 27 carries for 101 yards and a touchdown last year as the Tigers’ third-string back, and there was somewhat of an expectation that Mizzou would find an upgrade over him to compliment Hansbrough this year. However, redshirt sophomore and junior college transfer Chase Abbington, a four-star recruit, didn’t enroll until late in the summer and showed up out of shape. Meanwhile, redshirt junior Morgan Steward, who inspired plenty of excitement in spring practice a year ago, has been slow to recover from a hip injury that wiped out his 2014 season.

Interestingly, the Tigers’ most intriguing option behind Witter this week may be former walk-on Tyler Hunt, who was almost exclusively relegated to special teams duty before this year. Hunt, however, had five carries for 20 yards and a 78-yard receiving touchdown against Southeast Missouri State in this year’s opener, thus inspiring confidence that he could be an interesting contributor to Mizzou’s offense in 2015. However, Hunt is dealing with the effects of a groin injury and was limited last week against Arkansas State, so it’s debatable how much he’ll be able to contribute against UConn.

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Mizzou may have to bite the bullet this week on Steward, who has seven carries for 14 yards so far this year, and Abbington, who got just one carry for five yards during garbage time against SEMO. It should be interesting to see if either of those guys, who have been very highly-regarded at times but have underwhelmed thus far, can step up to the challenge as they receive their biggest opportunities yet.

If nothing else, the Mizzou coaching staff should be able to think up some creative solutions to the problem if the need arises. In 2012, they temporarily moved star receiver T.J. Moe into the backfield to solve a similar issue, and they did the opposite last year with jack-of-all-trades Marcus Murphy, giving him some work at slot receiver to solve a shortage of depth at that position. Players who would seem to be logical candidates for a cameo at running back include backup quarterback Marvin Zanders and receiver Ray Wingo, who already moved over from defensive back this spring in a hunt for more playing time opportunities.

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