Who will start at TE? Will Jayden Jernigan transition to the SEC?

• Dave Matter wrote about one of the biggest questions facing this year’s team. And, no, it’s not the quarterback position. It’s the tight ends.

“We’re certainly inexperienced across the board, but I think we have a hungry group that is excited about the opportunity,” said position coach Erik Link, who added tight end coaching duties to his plate after Casey Woods left the staff for the coordinator job at Southern Methodist University. “I think there’s probably a little bit of a chip on their shoulder just because on the outside there haven’t been a lot of expectations. They’re certainly looking forward to showing what they can do and fulfilling their role with the offense.”

In case you missed it, you can read some of our takes on the tight end situation in our recent pass catcher roundtable.

• Matt Stahl at the Columbia Tribune profiles Jayden Jernigan, who’s looking to make an instant impact in his lone season as a Missouri Tiger.

“I already have leverage, God-given leverage,” said Jernigan, who stands 6 feet tall and is listed at 277 pounds. “I feel like that helps me a lot. I’m able to stay low, stay under somebody, and I know if somebody has to come and strike me, they’ve got to get low and meet at my height. So it’s a little bit easier for me, I’m able to read the blocks a little bit easier.”

The article also addresses how Jernigan was welcomed by his fellow defensive linemen over the offseason.

• But you didn’t just come to read, did you? No, you came to look at pictures, too!

• If you want to queue up another podcast after Before the Box Score, check out Dave Matter’s new Eye on the Tigers podcast episode with new intern Calum McAndrew.

Yesterday at Rock M

• In which Dan Keegan recaps Chris Connelly’s recent conversation with Michael Sam
• In which our football staff addresses the linebacker situation on the defense... the situation being that they’ve got some pretty good players!

More Links:

• The GOAT Karissa Schweizer was recently injured during one of her races. On Monday, she updated her followers on how she’s been doing in a Twitter thread.

Get well soon, Karissa!

• Jordan Elliott, starting NFL defensive tackle? It’s looking like it could happen!
• Dennis Gates is out on the road schooling himself with the help of his competitors, specifically Loyola Maryland. You have to love a coach who’s a lifelong learner!
• Gates is also closing in on a commitment date for East St. Louis prospect Macaleab Rich, for whom Mizzou is in a tightly contested battle with competitors like Kansas State.
• Noah Carter hasn’t beenaround very long, but he’s already looking to make himself a household name amongst younger amateur hoopers. Check out his came if you’re in Iowa (near-ish Dubuque).

• Monday was an exciting day for Steve Bieser and his program. First things first, Mizzou announced it will open the 2023 season in good ole Tejas at the College Baseball Showdown!

They also picked up a commitment from North Dakota prospect Drew Rerick.

• Here’s an interesting question to pose to the commentariat. Well, a question within a tweet anyway.

• Mizzou golfer Jack Lundin is now the three-time reigning winner of the South Dakota Golf Association Amateur Championship. No one runs the Dakota circuit like Lundin!
• Not Mizzou specific, but Rock M contributor Dan Keegan wrote about a recent NIL and Topps partnership that seems of particular interest to collectors and/or potential NIL opportunists!
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• If you’re looking to sign up for a new streaming service, you can try FuboTV: click HERE for FuboTV access — FuboTV now has ESPN, CBS, FS1 and more sports channels.
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