Happy Fifth of July! Here’s a football hodgepodge for you.

1. Since joining the SEC, Mizzou has the ninth-best conference record.

These are ordered very strangely, but the general message here is that Alabama, Georgia, LSU, and Florida have been a step ahead of the pack, and Mizzou is one of six teams smack in the middle.

2. Dave Matter put together Mizzou’s “All-SEC” offense.

As in, the best Mizzou players in the SEC era at each position.

3. Emanuel Hall: the No. 41 receiver in the country?

Via Athlon:

If you like big plays, Hall is the player to watch in 2018. He averaged 24.8 yards per catch on 33 receptions last season, recording 817 yards and eight touchdowns. Hall also led the SEC by recording nine receptions of at least 40 yards or more. He should eclipse the 1,000-yard mark in 2018.

The 10 players ahead of him: TCU’s Jalen Reagor, Miami (Ohio)’s James Gardner, Georgia’s Terry Godwin, UMass’ Andy Isabella, ECU’s Trevon Brown, Iowa State’s Hakeem Butler, Marshall’s Tyre Brady, Ole Miss’ D.K. Metcalf, UNC’s Anthony Ratliff-Williams, and LSU’s Jonathan Giles. I would put Hall ahead of at least six of those guys.

4. Speaking of receivers, it’s a battle royal after the top two or three.

The Trib’s Danny Jones looked at the top position battles Mizzou faces heading into camp.

Wide receiver

A shoulder injury kept Emanuel Hall out of the spring game, but one of the country’s best deep threats will anchor the 2018 receiving corps. Johnathon Johnson is a lock next to him at slot receiver.

Then ... chaos. The Tigers’ third receiver could be Oregon transfer Alex Ofodile, senior Nate Brown, junior college transfer Harry Ballard III or even freshman Kam Scott.

I think Brown has proven enough to get the assumed nod here, but if Ofodile stays healthy or Ballard follows up on his nice spring finish, this could be a nice battle. Either way, there are solid candidates — this doesn’t appear to be a “well, someone else has to start...” situation.

More Links:

• July 4 was evidently a popular cut-down day for recruits and their lists. Mizzou made the cut for a couple of running backs: high-three-star Texas product Darwin Barlow and mid-three-star Alabama back A’montae Spivey.

• Hey there, Laurence Bowers.
• Here’s a little more about James Franklin’s move into the Toronto starting lineup.
• Oh damn, we’ve already got preseason polls to react to. Mizzou Volleyball was picked third in the SEC, behind Kentucky and Florida.
• Former Mizzou Softball player Regan Nash made ... her summer baseball debut on Tuesday.

• Say hello to new Mizzou Women’s Hoops assistant Chris Bracey. That makes two Braceys on the coaching staff.
• Say hello to new Mizzou Baseball assistant Matt Lisle.

• And while we’re in the greeting mood, say hello to new Mizzou Volleyball defensive specialist Annika Gerau.