Missouri’s Thursday announcements that Malik Young hadn’t qualified and Nate Howard had been dismissed were certainly disappointing, but it’s hard to say they were surprising. The simple fact that Young hadn’t been cleared yet was a sign he might not ever be cleared; meanwhile, since Howard’s arrest in June, his status was tenuous at best.
Surprising or not, the loss of Howard confirms a particular need. While the two other JUCO tackles — Walter Palmore and Rashad Brandon — seem to be getting up to speed and helping to provide depth on the interior, there is really only one known quantity at end at this point: Marcell Frazier.
While senior Jordan Harold is still around (and is probably your likely starter opposite Frazier), Howard’s offiical absence has created the need for a young end to step up quickly.
Franklin Agbasimere and Tre Williams were late bloomers in high school but now find themselves among the crowd of Mizzou players competing to replace departed defensive end Charles Harris. [...]
Otherwise, Odom’s staff is looking for depth and, perhaps, challengers for the projected starters. Freshmen Chris Turner and Akial Byers are making strong impressions. Junior college transfer Nate Anderson could be a factor. Saturday’s scrimmage will help shape the pecking order for the start of the season.
“Like I tell them all the time, I won’t make the depth chart,” defensive line coach Brick Haley said. “They will. They’ll make it how they produce and play every day.”
Agbasimere is still learning the ins and outs of the position (and the game as a whole) but has had some shining moments in fall camp. And optimism for the position appears strong.
Williams is also trying to stand out. He’s already a standout quote, at least.
"Anybody coming in with that chip on their shoulder, being a hometown kid, anybody would say, 'I'm ready to play! I'm ready to play!'" Williams said. "But you come in (at) 225 (pounds), summer goes by a little bit, you get 10 pounds on — still not big enough. You're getting thrown around out there. You're not big enough to actually play in the SEC. Being redshirted, I was kind of poop-faced — kinda salty — but I got through it."
(There’s a great story in there about how his mom found out he was playing football, too.)
More Football Links:
"[Rashad Brandon]'s real physical. Violent player, quick hands," Terry Beckner Jr. said. "(The defensive line is) a whole lot better. Not everybody's too spent. Now you got a spare for each group and everybody rotates."
Brandon joins a defensive tackle group that has gone from sparse to relatively deep in the last few months. Missouri brought in six players at the position in the 2018 class, though Malik Young going to make it and Akial Byers is playing more defensive end than tackle.
- The Trib: Lightly-recruited Rountree could be a key back for Tigers
- The Missourian: Missouri's Acy stepping up at cornerback
- MUtigers.com: Kaleb Prewett's Versatility is a Fine Fit for Mizzou
- MUtigers.com: Linebacker Preview
More Links:
- The Mizzou sporting year is about to officially begin! Mizzou Soccer plays at Illinois tonight at 7pm CT, then hosts Iowa State at 4pm on Sunday on SEC Network. The Maneater has a breakdown of how students in particular can attend these games.
- Not sure it’s possible for people to be more excited about the Mizzou Basketball season than they already are, but this certainly won’t hurt.
Jeremiah Tilmon puts in work! Not only are His speed & strength metrics improving, but He's ⬆️14lbs Muscle ⬇️8lbs fat via 7wk Post Dexa scan pic.twitter.com/TFMw4rtp7g
— Nicodemus C. (@nicodemus_c) August 18, 2017
From Chapel Hill...
— Mizzou Basketball (@MizzouHoops) August 16, 2017
He wears #️⃣5️⃣5️⃣...
He is... @blizzyblake55_! #MIZ pic.twitter.com/MTNGiSkEOu
— Justin Britt (@JustinBritt68) August 17, 2017
- Former Mizzou Softball star Taylor Gadbois is still stealing lots of bases.
This years Rally Spikes Award (Most Stolen Bases) goes to @taylorgadbois from @TX_Charge presented by @3N2Sports! @MizzouSoftball #series17 pic.twitter.com/XrvKq7GOV9
— NationalProFastpitch (@profastpitch) August 17, 2017
- Anybody want to tee off for Mizzou Baseball?
- Looks like the Trib has lost another strong beat writer (and is replacing him with another strong beat writer).
Some news ...
— Blake Toppmeyer (@btoppmeyer) August 17, 2017
I've accepted the Tennessee Volunteers football beat at the Knoxville News Sentinel and USA Today Network -- Tennessee.
I'll be moving into Blake's role as the Trib football writer this fall. So if the Tigers land the No. 1 FB recruit, you know who to thank.
— Daniel Jones (@daniel_m_jones) August 17, 2017