Missouri Tigers Week 1 Depth Chart Released with Several Surprises
With the Missouri Tigers’ 2015 season opener coming on Saturday, the program released its initial regular season depth chart on Monday with the weekly press release. While most of the changes could be inferred by activity during the Tigers’ preseason practices, there were a few surprises:
- With all due respect to the players who worked hard to earn starting jobs in camp, the biggest story of the day was four-star quarterback recruit Drew Lock winning the backup job behind Maty Mauk. It’s unclear what the staff’s plans are for Lock, who would exhaust two full years of eligibility if he backed up Mauk for the remainder of the incumbent starter’s career, but the true freshman was obviously impressive enough during camp that he has earned the right to see immediate game action. It should be interesting to see what becomes of Marvin Zanders and former prized recruit Eddie Printz, who were competing with Lock for the backup job, over the next few weeks.
- Redshirt sophomore Alec Abeln, who has spent much of his Mizzou career at center, emerged as a darkhorse during the final days of camp and won the starting left guard job, beating out guys like former tackle Taylor Chappell (listed as Abeln’s backup) and interior swingman Brad McNulty (listed as the backup to Evan Boehm at center). Abeln will be seeing his first college action on Saturday when the Tigers take on Southeast Missouri State.
More from Missouri Tigers
- Missouri Tigers’ Damarea Crockett named to Maxwell Award watch list
- Missouri Tigers’ Marcell Frazier named to Bednarik Award watch list
- Key takeaways from Missouri Tigers’ first preseason depth chart
- Missouri Tigers’ Tanner Houck selected in first round of 2017 MLB Draft
- Texas transfer Jordan Elliott reportedly commits to Missouri Tigers
- Junior Josh Augusta, who is arguably Mizzou’s best defensive tackle but has repeatedly been punished for failing to get his weight under control, is back in the starting lineup after being listed behind Rickey Hatley and A.J. Logan to start camp. Logan has now been moved back to the reserve ranks, though he’ll still likely see a lot of playing time, especially since the 345-pound Augusta’s snaps will need to be limited somewhat.
More from Arch Authority
- St. Louis Cardinals: Randal Grichuk to begin Double-A rehab stint
- John Brebbia deserves a shot as the St. Louis Cardinals’ closer
- St. Louis Cardinals place Randal Grichuk on DL, recall José Martínez
- St. Louis Cardinals release RHP Corey Baker from organization
- St. Louis Cardinals activate Kolten Wong and Kevin Siegrist from DL, option Luke Weaver and Alex Mejia to Triple-A
- Three true freshmen are listed on the depth chart along the defensive line, meaning they’ll likely be part of Craig Kuligowski’s rotation, which often utilizes eight or nine players on a weekly basis. Top recruit Terry Beckner Jr. is listed as Josh Augusta’s top backup at defensive tackle, and he’ll presumably receive significant reps. Converted tight end Josh Moore is also listed on the depth chart at DT, ranking third behind Augusta and Beckner. Because Moore is still rather slender at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds, he’ll likely be limited to obvious passing situations, but the athletic freshman should add an interesting element to the Tigers’ interior pass rush. Finally, Nate Howard won the backup spot behind Charles Harris at defensive end and should be a significant rotational player. Howard hasn’t grown all the way into his frame yet, as he’s 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, but he’s physically similar to a young Aldon Smith and should quickly grow into a big-time player for Mizzou.
- True freshman Corey Fatony, who had been competing with junior college transfer Dayton Balvanz for the punter job, won the competition as expected and is listed atop the depth chart.