Team Texas Offensive Lineman: Mitch Morse

Ever wondered what a Mizzou team that was comprised of only Missouri kids would look like? Or wonder how good an only-Texan Mizzou squad would do? Well, you’re in luck! This offseason, the Rock M Masthead is assembling the best team of Mizzou players by state that they graduated high school from. We compiled a list of the significant starters on every team from the year 2000 on and voted on the best players at their position group in order to create three “All-State” Mizzou squads: Team Missouri, Team Texas, and Team USA. Over the next nine weeks you’ll read about these Mizzou Greats that hailed from the respective regions and, hopefully, come away impressed with just how good these fictional teams could actually be.

Missouri’s best teams of the past 20 years always happened when they fielded an elite offensive line. This week we honor the gigantic, quiet contributors to the offensive points-machines we love so much.

Photo by Alex Menendez/Getty Images

Mitch Morse is one of the smartest and most versatile offensive linemen we’ll ever see at Missouri. He was also an athletic freak who probably didn’t get the credit he deserved in his time at Mizzou. His performance in the bench press (36 reps), broad jump (112 inches) and 20-yard shuttle (4.50 seconds) at the 2015 NFL Combine each ranked in the top five among offensive linemen.

Morse’s unique blend of smarts and athleticism helped him develop into one of the top offensive linemen in the SEC.

His first real starting experience came in the disastrous 2012 season. Injuries along the offensive line forced a number of young players into the lineup before they were ready. Morse started 11 games that season, both at center and right tackle. That experience proved valuable because in 2013 he was part of what is now remembered as one of - if not the - best offensive lines in program history.

Morse started all 14 games at right tackle in 2013 and kicked over to left tackle where he started all 14 games in 2014. In those two seasons he guided the Tigers to back-to-back SEC Championship appearances. The 2013 team finished the season with the second best ground attack in the SEC, a credit to what was one of the more physically imposing Mizzou offensive lines in recent memory.

Besides all of Morse’s on-field accomplishments, he was also one of the best individuals I’ve ever met who played in a Mizzou uniform. He was one of the best interviews on the team and never shied away from a tough question or conversation. It should come as no surprise to Mizzou fans to see he’s gone on to have such a successful NFL career with both the Kansas City Chiefs and now the Buffalo Bills.