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Anthony Sherrils had his best game in 2 years on Saturday

Here are today’s Mizzou Links.

By Bill Connelly

Missouri’s defensive front almost completely shut down Florida’s run game in the Tigers’ 45-16 trouncing of the Gators, but you could argue that the most important Tiger defender was in the back: With a fumble recovery, an interception, a goal line stuff, and a couple of sure tackles that prevented big plays, Anthony Sherrils had either his best or second-best game in the black and gold.

Sherrils, in the second quarter, intercepted a Florida pass near the Gators’ 36-yard line, which led to another score. And on first-and-goal during Florida’s opening second-half drive, he saved a score with a big hit on running back Lamichal Perine. The Gators would eventually settle for a field goal.

If this wasn’t the safety’s best game at Mizzou — 2.5 tackles for a loss against Mississippi State in 2015 might top it — it was certainly the most meaningful, Sherrils said. He senses his college career ending soon, and he had to miss Missouri’s road losses at Kentucky and Georgia with a concussion. This was his third game back, and he was key for a Mizzou team that came into this game tied for 122nd in the country in turnover margin (-10).

“Him not being out on the field with us and his guys, you know, it was eating him up on the inside,” said wide receiver J’Mon Moore, one of Sherrils’ closest friends on the team.

NCAA Football: Florida at Missouri
Sherrils recovered Brandon Powell’s early muffed punt
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Missouri doesn’t have many senior starters — at the moment, just two on offense (Ish Witter and J’Mon Moore) and four on defense (Marcell Frazier, A.J. Logan, Jordan Harold, and Sherrils) — but they’re coming up big as they reach what could be the final month of their respective careers.

And with the Tigers creeping back toward bowl eligibility, their own efforts could help spark a run that adds an extra month to their careers.

  • Witter had 17 carries for 83 yards, plus a 15-yard touchdown catch
  • Sherrils had 5.5 tackles, an INT, and a fumble recovery
  • Moore had five catches for 64 yards and a touchdown
  • Frazier had 2.5 tackles, a TFL, and a QB hurry
  • Harold had a QB hurry
  • Senior safety Anthony Hines had a huge special teams hit

(I’m not going to acknowledge reality and start thinking of Terry Beckner Jr. as a senior of sorts just yet, but he was also tremendous, obviously.)

When you make a late-season charge, it’s preferable for most of the contributions to come from underclassmen, a.k.a. guys who’ll be around to sustain the charge the next year. But Mizzou’s seniors turned a very good effort into a great one on Saturday.

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