Mizzou has released its Week 1 game notes for the battle against West Virginia in Morgantown, and ... it includes a depth chart!! (Click to enlarge.)
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Let’s dive into it.
Offense
Quarterback
Drew Lock (6’4, 220, So.)
Marvin Zanders (6’1, 200, So.)
The only surprise here is that there’s no “OR” involved here. Lock is the starter. We’ve been led to believe Zanders will also play, however, unless that was a massive bit of misdirection.
Tailback
Alex Ross (6’1, 220, Sr.) OR
Ish Witter (5’10, 200, Jr.)
It’s a little bit surprising that Damarea Crockett isn’t listed here, too, but we’ll still assume he plays. This reinforces that Witter had a lovely fall camp, and I’m excited to see how Josh Heupel and company use these two rather disparate backs.
Wide Receiver
J’Mon Moore (6’3, 205, Jr.)
Dominic Collins (6’2, 180, Jr.)
Johnathan Johnson (5’10, 185, RSFr.) OR
Chris Black (6’0, 190, Sr.) OR
Ray Wingo (5’11, 185, So.)
Emanuel Hall (6’3, 205, So.)
Dimetrios Mason (6’0, 185, Fr.)
Obviously depth charts only give away so much, but I was really hoping to see one just so we could get even the slightest idea of the hierarchy at receiver. We heard Keyon Dilosa was doing well ... we heard Eric Laurent was doing well ... but neither is listed here. Meanwhile, Emanuel Hall is the one to start in place of injured Nate Brown.
Another interesting twist: Chris Black has been by many accounts a leader off of the field, but he did not pull away from either Johnathan Johnson or Ray Wingo. So ... they’ll all rotate in the slot?
Tight End
Sean Culkin (6’6, 250, Sr.)
Jason Reese (6’5, 250, Jr.) OR
Kendall Blanton (6’6, 260, So.)
We expected an “OR” at tight end, but most assumed it would between Culkin and Reese on the first string, not between Reese and Blanton on the second. Meanwhile, neither true freshman (Brendan Scales or Albert Okwuegbunam) are listed. We’ll see if either burns a redshirt.
Left Tackle
Tyler Howell (6’8, 320, Jr.)
Kyle Mitchell (6’5, 330, So.)
No surprises here ... but plenty of size.
Left Guard
Kevin Pendleton (6’4, 335, So.)
Trystan Castillo (6’4, 320, Fr.)
Ditto.
Center
Samson Bailey (6’4, 295, So.)
Michael Stannard (6’2, 290, Sr.)
Jonah Dubinski (6’2, 290, RSFr.)
Bailey holds off Stannard, the graduate transfer and recent signee who got a little bit of starting experience at Memphis.
Right Guard
Alec Abeln (6’3, 305, Jr.)
Adam Ploudre (6’4, 315, Jr.)
Four-star redshirt freshman AJ Harris has been slowed by injury, enough that he doesn’t crack the first two-deep. We’ll see if Ploudre can hold him off.
Right Tackle
Paul Adams (6’6, 315, So.)
Tre’Vour Simms (6’5, 350, Fr.)
No surprises here. Big year for Adams.
Defense
Defensive End
Jordan Harold (6’2, 265, Jr.)
Spencer Williams (6’3, 250, So.)
Charles Harris (6’3, 260, Jr.)
Marcell Frazier (6’5, 260, Jr.)
#DLineZou is starting a walk-on at defensive end. I ... don’t know what to think about that one. On one hand, it could be an amazing story if Jordan Harold not only comes out of nowhere to earn a starting role, but then keeps it through high-caliber play. On the other hand, this could be an indictment of Frazier, Williams, and the not-even-listed Nate Howard. Alarm bells are sounding, but we’ll see.
Defensive Tackle
Rickey Hatley (6’4, 320, Sr.)
Terry Beckner Jr. (6’4, 290, So.)
A.J. Logan (6’2, 325, Jr.)
Josh Augusta (6’4, 355, Sr.)
By most accounts, Hatley (now up to 320!) and Logan were the more consistent performers in fall camp. Beckner and Augusta will obviously still play quite a bit, and hopefully they eventually thrive.
The line two-deep is definitely proof of one thing:
Odom on the depth chart: "I thought it was important to clear the depth chart. It's an ongoing process. I don't care if a kid is (1/2)
— Mizzou Football (@MizzouFootball) August 29, 2016
(2/2) "a walk-on or a SR or a FR. If they put themselves in position to help us, then we're going to play a whole bunch of people."#ShowMe
— Mizzou Athletics (@MizzouAthletics) August 29, 2016
Barry Odom practices what he preaches. Competition, competition, competition.
Linebacker
Donavin Newsom (6’2, 240, Sr.)
Terez Hall (6’2, 225, So.)
Michael Scherer (6’3, 235, Sr.)
Cale Garrett (6’3, 230, Fr.)
Joey Burkett (6’2, 225, So.)
Brandon Lee (6’2, 225, So.)
After the massive shifts on the defensive line ... no surprises here whatsoever.
Cornerback
Aarion Penton (5’10, 195, Sr.)
Christian Holmes (6’1, 190, Fr.) OR
DeMarkus Acy (6’2, 190, Fr.)
John Gibson (6’0, 195, Sr.)
Logan Cheadle (5’10, 180, Jr.)
No Anthony Hines or Finis Stribling IV; instead, two true freshmen might see work. And with TJ Warren still fighting back from injury, evidently John Gibson will get the initial nod opposite Aarion Penton. Of course, a lot of DBs will get work against the WVU offense.
Strong Safety
Anthony Sherrils (6’0, 205, Jr.)
Ronnell Perkins (6’0, 200, RSFr.)
No surprise.
Free Safety
Thomas Wilson (5’10, 195, Jr.)
Cam Hilton (6’0, 190, So.)
Also no surprise.
Special Teams
Place-Kicker
Tucker McCann (6’0, 195, Fr.)
Turner Adams (6’0, 205, Jr.)
The freshman starts from the get-go.
Punter
Corey Fatony (5’11, 205, So.)
No need to even list a second stringer for Corey Damn Fatony.
Kick Returns
Alex Ross (6’1, 220, Sr.)
Greg Taylor (5’10, 200, So.)
Damarea Crockett (5’11, 220, Fr.)
I was curious whether Ross would get KR work if he’s also the starting RB. Evidently so.
Punt Returns
Johnathan Johnson (5’10, 185, RSFr.) AND
Chris Black (6’0, 190, Sr.)
Black and Johnson, tied at two positions.