Mizzou football fall camp presser notes: 8/15/24

While there are plenty of underclassmen on Mizzou football that figure to make an impact this season, the Tigers will be led by veterans on both sides of the ball.

On the last Thursday of fall camp, reporters to a trip to the Bunker Club in the southeast end zone of Faurot Field to talk to a few of those older players. Here’s what they had to say.

Tyler Stephens I Tight end

On the offseason: “It’s been a grind. Of course, coming into this new season, there’s always trials and tribulations. But man, I can tell you, this group, this team, is exciting. We’re ready after four, five weeks of long, hard camp, we’re ready to ready to hit somebody new. We’re ready to go.”

On young tight ends like Jude James and Whit Hafer: “Those guys, they just want to learn, they just want to play. They understand how great of a room we have. Those two, Brett [Norfleet], Jordon [Harris], me, Tuck[er Miller], Adam [Molitor], all the guys in that room together, collectively, it’s great. I can’t wait for those guys to get back on the field. They’re attacking.”

On what he focused on during the offseason: “Honestly, just running my own race. Focusing on keeping my headset clear and understanding that the comparison is the thief of joy. I focus on myself and do my own thing. I’m happy to be a part of this team. I’m grateful to be a part of this team. My teammates, Brett, Jordon, the tight end room, outside the tight end room, I mean, where else would I want to be?”

On Brett Norfleet: “Freshman All-American, that kid, he’s crazy. He’s gonna put on a show every single time he goes out there, and I can’t wait to be a part of it. Also, I’m grateful to go battle against him every single day. It gives me a chance to really prove to myself what I can do in this league and what I can do on the field. I love every single day I get to go out there and compete.”

On how the wide receivers open up the tight ends in Kirby Moore’s offense: “That’s whatever Moore decides. In the group, we do what we do. We’re a tribe. We focus on doing our task and our task alone, and if we do that, we do our job, everything will be okay. So when the opportunities do come, best believe that we’re going to make those plays.”

On playing his former school, Buffalo, in the second game of the season: “I’ve got so many guys on that team still, oh my gosh. We still talk every day, so it’s crazy. I was just on the game with them last night, and we talk our crap every single day. Just going out there on that field, when we run out there, or even in warm-ups, and I see those guys again, it’s going to be such a humble feeling, such a blessing, that God has put me in a position to meet all these people and be around all these friends and family and opportunity. It’s amazing. I can’t wait to go out there, and I can’t wait to play with them and see them and, you know, just have fun.”

On the personnel and coaching continuity on offense: “We kind of understand what’s in front of us. We understand the pressure that’s put on us, but at the end of the end of the day, we love to perform under pressure. That’s something we’re focusing on this last week at camp, and something that we’re going to have to do throughout the season, no matter what. In this league, no matter who you play, whether it’s Murray State, Buffalo, Texas A&M, it doesn’t matter. College football is college football. You have to go out there and perform under pressure, so that’s kind of what we’re focusing on, and that’s what we’re going to aim to do.”

On the emotions surrounding his last season of college football: “It comes and goes, but for me, I try to not really focus on that. I’m pretty sure it’s going to hit me here pretty soon. When I line up in this tunnel and I run out there, I’m going to feel it for sure. But right now, I kind of just want to enjoy the moment, be with my be with my brothers, my teammates. But, yeah, I have those moments for sure. I’s gonna be that last of everything, and it’s coming around for me right now. Last of all, camp, last spring ball, last of this, last of that, a lot of last everything. So I like to just focus on here, but it’s gonna come for sure.”

On the defense: “The whole defense is doing a really good job. There’s freshman in every aspect of the game, offense, defense, special teams. I think these guys need to understand that they are needed. Every single player is needed. It doesn’t matter if you’re a first-year, if you’re a fifth-year, there’s going to be an opportunity to play. I think if we stretch that enough, and these guys really understand that, it’s going to be a scary team.”

On transition from a fall camp mindset to an in-season mindset: “When we get to that point, when we switch to Murray State mode, it’s not really a flip. When you get into camp, your mindset is ‘okay, the season’s here. The season’s now’. So from day one of camp to day one of Murray State, it’s still preparation for the game. But in terms of player mindset, you kind of understand, hey baby, we’re not hitting each other anymore. It’s time to go. I want to hit somebody new. So guys get fired up, and I just think the juice and the energy just keeps going up and up and up.”

On the best place for wings in Buffalo: “I’m not an Anchor Bar guy. I’m a Duff’s guy, or, I think it was America’s best wings? Bar-Bill! Bar-Bill wings, for sure. But Anchor Bar, that was the first place I went. Maybe I’m wrong, I’ll have to ask some UB players.”

On what makes playing for Kirby Moore fun: “Just the way he runs his offense. He knows the game of football like no one I’ve ever been around in my life. Just being a part of his offense and just learning every day, going and installing this, this and that, learning and offense, learning a defense, it’s just fun to be around. It’s fun to have so many experienced coaches and well-known guys on this team. I’m appreciative.”

On taking a leadership role within the tight end room: “It’s weird, because I remember when I was one of those guys, but now I’m kind of like, oh snap, I’m the old guy in the room. But it’s fun, man. Those guys are fun to be around. They give me flashbacks to my young times in college. Just being with them, going in every day, it’s like a movie. It’s like a movie with those guys, man. So I’m thankful coach [Derham] Kato. I’m thankful for Brett. I’m thankful for John, thankful for Adam. I’m thankful for Tucker, thankful for ‘em all, thankful for Jude. I’m thankful for we’re thankful for my GA’s. Just just to play this game. Thankful for God putting me in his position again, like I’m thankful. I appreciate life.”

On building chemistry with Drew Pyne: “When Drew came in, we actually got a we made a couple plays in practice together. Just get to know Drew outside of the game of football too, understanding where he came from, the injuries he’s went through, just who he is...You meet new guys in this game every single day, and just building new relationships...it’s still fresh. It’s still new. Three weeks into camp, we’re with each other every day, but we all have our own things to focus on. I’m excited just to know these guys outside the game as well.

On what Pyne brings to Mizzou: “His energy, his level of commitment, his level of play. We all know he’s played the game of football before, and he’s made some big-time plays. Just having another guy here on that program for me is doing so much more for us. So much more depth, so much more experience, just another way to help the team win, and I love it.”

Eddie Kelly I Defensive lineman

On the defensive line competition, especially with the recent loss of Darris Smith to injury: “We love Darris. Darris is a great individual, great guy, great energy guy...competition’s been great. It’s all love. I can’t really complain about it. Me, Zion [Young], Joe [Moore III], Jahkai [Lang], we gonna all get after it. We know what we need to do. We know who’s going to be able to help us.”

On why he chose Mizzou: “I believe in coach Drink[witz]. I appreciate coach Drink for taking a shot on me. I understood what the program did the year before. I just wanted to add my piece to the puzzle and come to a great team. The team welcomed me with open arms. I love it since I’ve been here.”

On Mizzou’s recruiting pitch to Kelly: “Energy guy, a guy that could come in and help the team, just adding my one percent, doing whatever I can to help the team and get to our primary goal.”

On being an experienced transfer: “I transferred a couple of times, and being the guy that has had experience, it has been a little easier to play. Just coming in, knowing what I need to do, know what my focus is, knowing what I need to do to help the team. So it has been pretty easy.”

On Johnny Walker Jr.: “Johnny’s a funny guy. He a dog. He comes to compete every day. I have nothing bad to say about Johnny. He’s a great guy. He a leader on the team, somebody I can go to and talk about anything. He hosted me on my official [visit], too. Johnny a great guy.”

On the offensive line: “I can feel myself getting one percent better every day. We go after it. I have nothing bad to say about the offensive line.”

On working with Al Davis and Brian Early: “I love coach Davis, coach Early. They’re all about getting after the quarterback, that’s all our primary goal...They’re helping me build my craft, different stances I can use to get after the quarterback. I just appreciate both of them.”

On potentially playing defensive tackle: “Anything the team needs me to do, I’m willing to do it. They need me to rush from the three, they need me to take some blocks from the three. I’m here to do it. I’m going to do anything to help the team. That’s my mentality. Whatever’s going to get me on the field, whatever’s going to best help me put me in a position to be on the field, I’m going to do it.”

On Darius Robinson: “He’s a freakish athlete. He played the three and the five.”

On Jaylen Brown: “Jaylen Brown, he’s gonna be a dog. He come after it every day. He’s very powerful...he’s going to bring his physicality and his mindset.”

On if his power conference experience will help him in the SEC: “Football is football. I played a lot of SEC teams when I was in the AAC, and I played a lot of SEC teams when I was in the ACC. Everybody puts their pads on the same way...if you’re a dog, you’re going to go out there and ball regardless. That’s how I feel about the game of football.”

On potential naysayers regarding the new era of the transfer portal: “You never know what goes on inside. Coaches get fired. Things happen...At the end of the day, when we come to Missouri and attack, the fans are going to love it regardless.”

On if he’s approached the transition to a new locker room any differently than before: “Nah. I bring myself...I know I’m going to fit. I’m a talkative person. I know I can go to any of my teammates and just chat with them. But the locker room vibes, it’s amazing. I knew that wasn’t going to be a problem because coach Drink had already told me what he wanted, and the team was already established.”

On the team’s culture: “The culture is great here. Really great. It’s about building elite E.D.G.E’s around here...They’re building us to go through any storm, any test that we’re gonna go through this season, we will be ready for it.”

On why players want to play for coach Drinkwitz: “He’s funny, but he’s gonna be a coach that’s gonna get on you. He’s gonna love you, too...he’s gonna be there for you.”

Dreyden Norwood I Defensive back

On improvements from last fall camp: “I feel like I’ve gotten a lot better, got more comfortable stepping into a bigger role being the oldest guy in the room. Being a leader, being more vocal.”

On Nic DeLoach: “Nic DeLoach is extremely athletic. He’s a great guy, hard worker. He comes to work every day. I think the sky is the limit for him, just because he comes in, he’s even-keeled, and he works hard.”

On Toriano Pride Jr.: “He’s more of the talker in the corner room, but he brings a competitive edge, just like me. He’s a hard worker, and he comes to compete every day.”

On facing the challenges of losing veteran defensive backs from last season: “We just go out there and work every day. Everybody is expecting a lot from us just because of the guys last year, but we try to go in each day and work hard and just be the best that we can be every day.”

On learning from the departed veterans: “We learned a lot from KAD [Kris Abrams-Draine] and Ennis [Rakestraw Jr.]. Those are my brothers. I was here with them for two years. I learned a lot, still stay in touch with them guys today. They were just competitive. Came to work every day, the same guy every day, consistent and working hard every day.”

On replicating Abrams-Draine and Rakestraw’s physicality: “If you want Death Row Defense, you can’t be out there scared to play and be physical. If you out there, you got to be wiling to come down and play physical and tough.”

On what makes Luther Burden II tough to cover: “A lot. Luther’s just a great player all-around. He makes us better every day, and I can say that for every receiver.”

On what Norwood brings as a leader: “Being vocal, talking to those guys more, teaching them the nuances of stuff and just showing them the ropes and letting them know that you got to come to work every day and do better.”

On potentially replicating last year’s defensive success: “The guys that came back, they hold everybody to a standard. It’s a standard that we play with. If somebody’s not playing to that standard, we’re gonna let each other know, and we’re gonna step up to that standard.”

On if his day-to-day approach is any different than last year: “I’ve been more locked in this year...getting in-shape better, getting the young guys up to speed.”

On Marvin Burks Jr.: “Marvin has gotten extremely confident with way he’s communicating out there, and he’s making a lot of plays, flying around, being fast and physical.”

On Cam Keys and Trajen Greco: “Those guys are extremely talented. They come to work every day, and they’re making plays out there for sure.”

On returning to Texas A&M: “It’ll be cool going back, but it’s not really something that I circle.”

Mekhi Miller I Wide receiver

On standing out amidst a crowded wide receiver room: “Just go out there and compete every day. You can’t really put pressure on yourself because you have a lot of room to grow with the people in that room. You could grab stuff from anybody in that room to add to your game. So just go out there and compete is probably the best way to just stand out, I guess.”

On how he’s improved from this time last year: “More on the mental aspect, understanding the game. My third year of being here, third year in SeC, understanding the game a lot more. Second year in Kirby’s offense. It’s given me a chance to really kind of master knowing what’s really going on, what’s going to be called and just being a better teammate and just growing...understanding that I’m probably into that upper level, being a leader, I got to be a leader. I’m no longer the young person in that group, so I got to help the younger ones out and help them understand and help them have fun and go out there and compete.”

On the camaraderie within the wide receiver room: “It’s great. We always have fun in our room. We always have fun, whether it’s from the players or to the coaches or coach [Jacob] Peeler. We always have fun every day. Every day is different. We always have something to joke and laugh about. We just go out there and do the same thing. We get out there on the practice field just help each other and push each other become better. It’s always really good.”

On why he and the rest of Mizzou’s young wide receivers stayed in Columbia: “They just understand what it means to be a part of this brotherhood. This team that’s really something that’s really been harped on us this whole offseason, just a brotherhood and becoming close to each other. And once you build that bond, it’s kind of hard to leave your closest friends. You don’t want to do that. And you understand, if you can just continue to work trust your work and continue to grow with each other, you’re going to understand your opportunity is going to come. So I’m pretty sure they’re just trusting and to not only them, but into us and the brotherhood.”

On Kirby Moore fostering comfortability: “He’s not you’re regular coach. He makes sure he builds relationships...The bond that I have with him, we’re really close, able to just understand him as you know, man to man. So that really helps with that comfort level of me calling him by his first name.”

On what Miller has seen to feel like the defense can replicate last year’s success: “How close they are. We lost a few, but we also have a lot of returning starters on that defense, and seeing how close they are, and seeing how much work that they put in, they have every right to be confident in believing it’d be better, just as good or even better as last year.”

On if the culture has shifted during his time in Columbia: “Kind of the same. Kind of like last year, when we developed that S.T.P. mindset, we carrying that over for this year because we still feel like we have a lot to prove. Yes, we had a great season last year, but there was a lot of areas for us to grow, and we’re looking forward to improving that this year.”

On the wide receivers not becoming overconfident: “We have a standard. We have a standard that we set for ourselves. And if we feel like if we can live up to that standard every single day, then we have pretty much every right to be confident in ourselves. We’re not really the ones that you know, just showboat...We want to be able to show what we can do. And that’s what the whole S.T.P. came for. And we really carry that into the wide receiver room as well. So we just do a good job, everybody in that room holding each other accountable to live up to that standard every day.”

On what makes Burden a great wide receiver: “Just turn on the tape. You can see for yourself. He’s a great teammate, great athlete. He goes out there and puts in the work and what you practice, how you practice, how you playing. Whatever he does in practice, he goes out there and shows in the game. Sometimes he does even more in practice.”

On Theo Wease Jr.’s leadership: “He’s brought a lot. He’s brought a lot of maturity to our group. When he came in, he really came in and stepped in as a leader day one. Really shown us the way by example and by by talking to us. He’s another person you really could just ask a question about. He’s great to learn from. He has a lot of experience, not only here, from but OU, you as well. If he has any questions, if you have any questions, how to grow as a receiver or even as a man, he’s just an easy person to connect to, so it’s been really good to have him in that role.”

On Josh Manning’s growth: “I’ve seen a lot, definitely with his confidence. I’m glad to see that he’s, from last year to this year, he’s been a lot more confident. He’s been able to make a lot of plays this fall camp...it feels good to see someone grow and be more confident in themselves.”

On the defensive backs: “Everybody in that room has been doing well. Every day in camp, the receiver group and the corners and even stages out there and compete, which makes each other better. Iron sharpens the iron. Everybody in that group, on the defensive side, the cornerbacks, the DB room, they all been looking good, just going out there and competing, just having fun.”