Maty Mauk Reinstated from Suspension by Missouri Tigers

After an indefinite suspension for a violation of team rules, Missouri Tigers quarterback Maty Mauk has returned to the team and will be reinstated. The return of Mauk, who missed the Tigers’ first four games, is somewhat surprising considering the lengthy nature of his suspension and the lack of communication about when, if ever, it would end. The reinstatement was first reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch‘s Dave Matter.

There will undoubtedly be questions about whether Mauk is being brought back to try to spark the Tigers’ offense, which has not scored a touchdown since the third quarter of their October 3 game against South Carolina; in other words, the Tigers have gone 13 quarters without a touchdown. Mauk, who is 57-for-110 (51.8%) for 654 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions this season along with 36 carries for 135 yards, hasn’t exactly been a spectacular facilitator of offensive production, either, but it’s looking increasingly possible that he’s better equipped to handle the starting job than true freshman Drew Lock.

Lock, perhaps the most highly-regarded quarterback recruit in Mizzou history, became the first true freshman quarterback to start a game under Gary Pinkel against South Carolina, and while he started off well in that game (21-for-28 for 136 yards and two touchdown passes), he’s since gone 41-for-49 (41.4%) with no touchdown passes and two interceptions thrown over his past three starts. It’s not necessarily that Lock has been terrible as the Tigers’ starter, but an anemic running game which fails to support the passing attack and a severe lack of developed receiving talent have made things exceptionally tough for the true freshman.

It’s not a certainty that Mauk will regain his starting job, as Matter reported that he and Lock would be listed as “even” on the depth chart in advance of next Thursday’s game against Mississippi State. It stands to reason, though, that if the Tigers are going to bring back a player who obviously committed a violation serious enough to merit him sitting for a third of the season, he’s probably going to play. While the Tigers surely still see Lock as their quarterback of the future, it might be best to just shut him down for the rest of the season (or at least limit his role going forward) and let him regain his confidence in hopes of pushing for the starting job next season.

Next: Mizzou Loses 10-3 to Vanderbilt

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