Missouri has released its depth chart and game notes for Saturday’s road game against the Vanderbilt Commodores.

Offense

Quarterback

• Drew Lock (6’4, 225, Jr.) Last Week: 13/28 -- 217 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT, 1 run — 3 yards
• Micah Wilson (6’3, 215, RSFr.) Last Week: 1 /2 — 9 yards, 5 runs - 39 yards
• Jack Lowary (6’4, 225, So.)

Drew Lock now has 35 touchdowns on the season and needs four more to tie and five more to pass Chase Daniel’s 2008 record for passing touchdowns in a season.

At this point it’s almost a given that he’s going to throw an interception every game, it’s just a matter of when and how costly it is. Fans still hoping that Lock turns into the next Chase Daniel should probably just accept that’s never going to happen and learn to love his explosive, home run potential.

Another week, another fantastic rushing performance ... from Missouri’s backup QB Micah Wilson, who this week was robbed of a touchdown at the end of the game. Keep on trucking Micah. We see you.

Running back

• Ish Witter (5’10, 200, Sr.) Last Week: 24 — 216 yards, 1 TD, 1/1 catch — 9 yards
• Larry Rountree (5’11, 215, Fr.) Last Week: 18 — 155 yards, 1 TD, 1/1 catch — 19 yards
• Not listed: Dawson Downing (6’0, 225, R-Fr.) Last Week: 4 — 22 yards

DAMN, Ish! That’s a hell of a way to close out your final game at Faurot Field. Perhaps he was tired of hearing so many praise him as a pass-blocking, third down specialist, but Mr. Witter was breaking tackles and eating up yards on the way to him breaking 2,000 career rushing yards. He is now just 256 yards away from 10th place on Mizzou's career rushing list.

Also:

Witter and Rountree combined for 415 yards on the ground and provided the consistent efficiency to balance Missouri’s explosive passing.

Receiving corps

X-WR:

• J’Mon Moore (6’3, 205, Sr.) Last Week: 3 catches/6 targets -- 39 yards, 1 TD
• Dominic Collins (6’2, 185, Sr.) Last Week: 1 — 9

A solid performance from Missouri’s No. 1 receiver. Moore would need 221 yards in the next two games to break 1,000 yards on the season. Given the competition, it’s certainly possible. Moore has only eclipsed 100 yards receiving twice this season, but last year he put up 138 and 135 against Vanderbilt and Arkansas respectively, so watch out!

Y-WR:

• Emanuel Hall (6’3, 200, Jr.) Last Week: 5/11 — 102, 2 TDs
• Nate Brown (6’3, 210, R-Jr.) Last Week: 0—0

At this rate, it might be a photo-finish as to which Missouri receiver has the most yards at the end of the season — Hall is only 73 yards behind Moore at 706 for the season, and he’s put up 100 yard performances in four of five SEC East games.

Hall had a bunch of drops against Tennessee and should have had an even bigger night, but it’s clear Drew Lock has established a rapport with the junior, and the two would be a great pairing if both return for their senior season.

Slot:

• Johnathon Johnson (5’10, 185, So.) Last Week: 2 /3 -- 41 yards, 1 TD
• Richaud Floyd (5’11, 190, So.) Last Week: 1 /1 — 7 yards

Somewhat missing in Missouri’s winning streak and Drew Lock’s resurgence: Johnathan Johnson had 128 yards against an awful Connecticut defense but hasn’t had more than 50 since the Kentucky game. Part of that is a lack of targets as Josh Heupel has shifted focus to the tight ends and a dominant rushing attack, but it’s good to know Johnson remains an option that could spark the Tiger offense at a moment’s notice.

Tight End:

• Albert Okwuegbunam (6’5, 260, RSFr.) Last Week: 0/2 — 0
• Jason Reese (6’5, 250, Sr.) Last Week: 0—0
• Kendall Blanton (6’6, 260, Jr.) Last Week: 0/2 — 0

Catching touchdowns and running free like a gazelle over the middle of opposing defenses isn’t all tight ends get to do, and lately these guys have been putting in the grunt work of protecting Drew Lock and paving rushing lanes for Ish Witter and Larry Rountree.

Don’t think they’ve been forgotten about, though; Lock targeted Okwuegbunam in the red zone once vs. Tennessee, but the Volunteers seemed ready for it.

Offensive line

Left Tackle:

• Yasir Durant (6’7, 340, So.)
• OR Tyler Howell (6’8, 330, Sr.)

According to David Morrison’s Snap Analysis, Missouri’s offense has been the most damage off the left side of the line where sophomore Yasir Durant and junior Kevin Pendleton have been mauling opposing defenders.

Left Guard:

• Kevin Pendleton (6’4, 330, Jr.)
• Adam Ploudre (6’4, 315, Sr.)

Center:

• Trystan Castillo (6’4, 315, RSFr.)
• Jonah Dubinski (6’2, 295, So.)

A bit of a worrying moment when ironman freshman Trystan Castillo went down in the first half against Tennessee, but former walk-on Jonah Dubinski came in, and there was zero drop-off. Odom said after the game that Castillo could have returned if necessary.

Right Guard:

• Tre’Vour Simms (6’5, 340, So.)
• AJ Harris (6’4, 310, So.)

Right Tackle:

• Paul Adams (6’6, 315, Jr.)
• Samson Bailey (6’4, 295, Jr.)

It’s gonna be real cool when Missouri returns all these lineman next year, isn’t it? What a dramatic change from just two years ago.

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Defense

Defensive line

Rush End:

• Marcell Frazier (6’5, 265, Sr.) Last Week: 3 tackles, 2 Sacks, 2 QB hurry
• Chris Turner (6’4, 250, Fr.) Last Week: 2 QBH
• Unlisted: Akial Byers (6’4, 295, Fr.) Las Week: 1 tackle

Frazier needs just 1.5 sacks to reach double digits on the season.

Defensive End:

• Jordan Harold (6’2, 255, R-Sr.) Last Week: 1 tackle, 1 TFL
• Nate Anderson (6’0, 265, Jr.) Last Week: 0—0
• OR Tre Williams (6’5, 250 R-Fr.) Last Week: 3 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 QBH, 1 FF

My boy Tre Williams looks to be the heir apparent to the rush end position currently held by Marcell Frazier.

Nose Tackle:

• AJ Logan (6’2, 330, SR.) Last Week: 0 — 0
• Markell Utsey (6’4, 305, So.) Last Week: 0--0
• Walter Palmore (6’4, 320, Jr.) Last Week: 4 tackles, 1 TFL, 2 QBH

Hey look at Walter Palmore showing up. Missouri really needs someone to inherit the mantle from senior AJ Logan, and right now Palmore looks the part.

Defensive Tackle:

• Terry Beckner Jr. (6’4, 305, Jr.) Last Week: 1 tackle
• Rashad Brandon (6’3, 300, Jr.) Last Week: 0 — 0
• Kobie Whiteside (6’1, 300, Fr.) Last Week: 0—0

Enjoy Beckner in college while you can.

Linebackers

Weakside Linebacker:

• Terez Hall (6’2, 230, Jr.) Last Week: 4 tackles
• Joey Burkett (6’2, 230, Sr.) Last Week: 2 tackles
• Unlisted: Aubrey Miller (6’2, 210, Fr.) Last Week: 2 tackles

It is so fun getting to see blitzing linebackers getting home on opposing quarterbacks. Terez Hall and Cale Garrett were a regular Michael Scherer and Donavin Newsom out there versus Tennessee — they didn’t rack up a bunch of stats, but they punished the freshman quarterback on almost every play.

Middle Linebacker:

• Cale Garrett (6’3, 235, So.) Last Week: 6 tackles, 1 TFL
• Eric Beisel (6’3, 245, Sr.) Last Week: 1 tackle
• Unlisted: Jamal Brooks (6’1, 227, Fr.) Last Week: 1 tackle

Sam/Nickel defender:

• Brandon Lee (6’2, 225, Jr.) Last Week: 5 tackles
• TJ Warren (5’11, 215, R-So.) Last Week: 4 tackles, 1 TFL
• Joshua Bledsoe (6’0, 200, Fr.) Last Week: 1 tackle, 1 sack

All three of these guys contributed something vs Tennessee, and slowly but surely this linebacking corps has taken shape.

Secondary

Cornerback:

• DeMarkus Acy (6’2, 185, So.) Last Week: 3 tackles
• Jerod Alton (5’10, 185, RSFr.) Last Week: 1 tackle

Tennessee was still able to pick up yards through the air despite having almost no offensive line and a freshman quarterback, so the Tigers’ defensive philosophy still needs a lockdown corner to take away the first read.

Cornerback:

• Adam Sparks (6’0, 175, Fr.) Last Week: 3 tackles
• Logan Cheadle (5’10, 185, Sr.) Last Week: 0 — 0

Safety:

• Anthony Sherrils (6’0, 190, Sr.) Last Week: 6 tackles, 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery
• Ronnell Perkins (6’0, 200, So.) Last Week: 0 — 0
• Unlisted: Tavon Ross (6’0, 210, R-Jr.) Last Week: 2 tackles

Sherrils is playing like a man possessed, and I’m loving it. Personally I’m happy for the man to finally be getting recognition and the opportunity to lead this defense, but I’m also elated that someone is taking leadership of the Tigers’ secondary. It’s too bad it took this long and that Sherrils will graduate and we’ll have to go through all this again next year.

Safety:

• Kaleb Prewett (6’1, 210, Jr.) Last Week: 1 tackle, 1 INT, 1 Pass Break Up
• Thomas Wilson (5’10, 195, Sr.) Last Week: 1 PBU
• Cam Hilton (6’0, 190, Jr.) Last Week: 2 tackles
• Unlisted: Jordan Ulmer (6’2, 195) Last Week: 0—0

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Special Teams

Kicker:

• Tucker McCann (6’0, 205, So.) Last Week: 5/6 on XPs (1 blocked), 3/3 field goals: 41, 23, 38
• Unlisted: Nick Bartolotta (5’6, 185, RJr.)

Kick Returner:

• Larry Rountree (5’11, 215, Fr.) Last Week: 2 — 46 yards, 23 average

Punter:

• Corey Fatony (5’11, 205, Jr.) Last Week: 4 punts for 198 yards, 49.5 average

Punt Returner:

• Richaud Floyd (5’11, 190, So.) Last Week: 1 — 16 yards