The media obtained its first take a look at switch cornerback Marcus Clarke partaking in drills at observe Tuesday. Beforehand a Miami Hurricane, Clarke was recruited and coached by defensive coordinator Blake Baker in 2019-2020.
“(Clarke) can actually run,” Baker stated. “He’s acquired an awesome talent set; actually, actually good ball expertise … I feel he’ll simply be capable to carry a calmness to the group. You bought Ennis (Rakestraw), you’ve got (Kris Abrams-Draine) which have performed numerous soccer, and I feel he type of suits in that wheelhouse, most likely from a skill-wise set as effectively.”
Baker doesn’t know the place Clarke’s eligibility stands for the season. The defensive workers is ensuring Clarke is in form and labored into the defensive scheme, hoping he’s accessible quickly.
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Security Jaylon Carlies grew up taking part in towards Clarke in Pop Warner youth soccer in Florida. Carlies famous Clarke may also help bolster Missouri’s protection with what he can carry from his expertise at Miami.
The Tigers look to construct off stifling run protection in Manhattan
Whereas unattainable to make any sweeping judgments after one week, it’s troublesome to disregard one stat from Missouri’s 52-24 win towards Louisiana Tech on Sept. 1: 11 dashing yards.
Of their first sport underneath Baker, the Tigers’ protection bottled up every little thing the Bulldogs wished to do on the bottom, a swift enchancment after a season during which they gave up 227.3 yards a sport underneath former DC Steve Wilks.
Bettering its rush protection was one of many protection’s factors of emphasis over the offseason, and the unit delivered Week 1. That even goes for gamers who weren’t part of Missouri’s roster final season. Baker has the buy-in of everybody on the defensive facet of the ball no matter the place they spent 2021.
“The file wasn’t what we wished to have it as for dashing yards,” switch Jayden Jernigan stated. “That was the very first thing we talked about and tried to cease (towards Louisiana Tech).”
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The Tigers know they’ve one other large take a look at on the bottom this weekend towards Kansas State, which rushed for 297 yards and 4 touchdowns in its season-opening 34-0 win towards South Dakota final Saturday. Extra particularly, Missouri must be ready for Deuce Vaughn— who began his season with a 126 yard, one landing efficiency.
This weekend, the Tigers hope to neutralize the Wildcats’ dashing assault by staying in gaps, concentrate on taking totally different tackling angles and most significantly, forcing the host’s assault to be one-dimensional. For Missouri, that defensive buy-in and energy begins with gamers on the workforce final 12 months and trickles down even to the latest additions.
“I’m right here now,” Jernigan stated. “I’m a Mizzou Tiger now, so no matter occurred final 12 months, we watched the movie and we see. We’re all constructing on how we are able to make this the perfect protection that Mizzou has had. No matter issues we had final 12 months, even transfers take that and we put that on our shoulders.”
Expertise drives defensive position
Final week, Darius Robinson joked about getting into the Missouri program with veterans in entrance of him and nearing the tip of his profession with skilled gamers nonetheless filling out the defensive position.
The Tigers added a number of transfers to their entrance seven, together with Jernigan from Oklahoma State and Kristian Williams from Oregon. The 2 touched on how expertise trumped early challenges Tuesday after transferring.
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“It wasn’t an excessive amount of of a troublesome activity to study,” Williams stated concerning Baker’s protection. “However it was fascinating, since you come from elsewhere (with) numerous strategies that is likely to be totally different and whatnot.”
Jernigan has additionally seen the transfers and tenured Missouri defensive linemen mesh effectively from the spring to now.
“I really feel prefer it actually helped within the spring, within the fall when all people actually began getting right here, and all of us began taking part in with one another,” Jernigan stated. “After which there’s the sport, all people’s going to be collectively. We’re one workforce, that’s the way it goes.”
Missouri’s protection led faculty soccer with the least dashing yards allowed with 11 towards Louisiana Tech on Thursday. However now, the Tigers enter Manhattan, Kansas, dealing with a Wildcats workforce that rushed for the fourth-most yards in faculty soccer final week.
Martez optimistic to not put on brace Saturday
Security Martez Manuel practiced final week and performed Thursday towards Louisiana Tech in a brace on his proper hand. The senior has continued to put on the membership, even breaking it on a sort out throughout Tuesday’s observe.
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“Fortunately, I play at a stage the place they’re actually good at getting me stuff after I want it,” Manuel stated. “Hopefully, I don’t acquired to place it on (Saturday).”
Manuel stated he doesn’t know when he’ll cease needing to put on the membership, however he wouldn’t be stunned if he needed to put on it Saturday at Kansas State. Baker additionally couldn’t supply a timetable on when to count on Manuel with out the brace, but it surely could possibly be off late this week or subsequent.
“It hasn’t restricted him,” Baker stated. “It is likely to be a game-time choice if he’s out of it. I don’t need to say a technique or one other, however he’s coming to tail finish of that.”
Missouri State Fair 2024 logo (Source: Missouri Department of Agriculture)
SEDALIA, Mo. (KBSI) – The Missouri State Fair is August 8-16 in Sedalia, Missouri.
Tap here to check out the daily schedules of fair activities.
The last Friday of the Fair, Aug. 16, is Missouri Electric Cooperatives (MEC) Day.
Special promotions and activities from MEC planned for the day include:
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Exhibits in the MEC Building showcasing green initiatives; kids activities and prize drawings.
Free LED nightlights given to the first 1,500 guests who visit their building this day.
MEC linemen will conduct Electrical Safety Training demonstrations at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. in front of the MEC Building.
The “People from our Pages” booth in the MEC Building will feature Earl Mullins from the Space Museum in Bonne Terre, MO.
MEC scholarship opportunity – four $500 scholarships will be given based on a blind draw. Application forms available in the MEC Building during the Fair.
Unlimited carnival ride wristbands will be $5 off for the day with a coupon from Rural Missouri Magazine.
Here are other events happening on MEC Day, Friday, Aug. 16:
Fish Cooking and Cleaning demonstrations – 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at the Conservation Building.
Draft Horse Hitches Show, sponsored by BTC Bank – 5 p.m. in the Mathewson Exhibition Center
Livestock shows and building competitions all day including dairy and beef cattle, swine and sheep shows; dahlia show in the Floriculture Building, 4-H Cooking with Honey Contest and more.
Wine 101 Class – noon and 2 p.m. in the Wine Tent
Free grounds entertainment all day for all ages including blacksmith demonstrations, John Cassidy Comedy Magic Show and Pat Kay One-Man Band on the Superior Sleep Stage, Professor Smart’s Comedy Science Show and Steve Gryb, the Pied Piper of Percussion, on the Kids Stage, sponsored by Your Local McDonald’s
Ludacris with Dax – 7:30 p.m. in the State Fair Grandstand, presented by CFM Insurance; Tickets on sale now.
Fireworks display, sponsored by Missouri S&T, immediately following the concert.
Youth in Agriculture Day, sponsored by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, is Saturday, Aug. 17.
The Best of Missouri Awards and Sale, sponsored by America’s Heartland Packing, LLC, is new this year. It will benefit the Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture scholarship program and showcase divisional champion products. The event will take place in the Lowell Mohler Assembly Hall with the Carcass Awards beginning at 10:30 a.m. and the Sale of 19 lots beginning at 11:15 a.m.
The Sale of Champions auction will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the Lowell Mohler Assembly Hall. The sale will feature 12 young agriculturalists and their livestock projects including the Grand Champion and Reserve Grand Champion steers, barrows, lambs, meat goats, pens of chickens, and pens of rabbits from 4-H and FFA shows. The Sale supports the Missouri State Fair Youth in Agriculture Fund, providing educational programs, competitive events and scholarships for agricultural youth.
Here’s a glance at the day’s schedule:
Contests including the Lick Your Chops, Missouri! Cooking Contest and 4-H Missouri Grown Foods Specialty Contest.
Livestock shows all day including beef cattle, dairy goat and swine shows, 4-H/FFA Supreme Beef Heifer Show, 4-H/FFA All Supreme & Reserve Heifer Show, 4-H/FFA Dairy Heifer Show and Jr. Dairymen Dairy Cattle Judging Contest, Draft Horse Halter Classes and Classic Cart Series and Draft Horse Hitches, sponsored by BTC Bank.
Free entertainment all day for all ages including Elton Dan and the Rocket Band and Dirt Road Addiction on the Budweiser Stage and The Girls Next Door KC on the Superior Sleep Stage.
Alabama with Restless Road – 7:30 p.m. in the State Fair Grandstand, presented by CFM Insurance; Tickets on sale now.
Fireworks display, sponsored by Missouri S&T, immediately following the concert.
Saturday, Aug. 17 is Missouri Youth in Agriculture at the 2024 Missouri State Fair.
Enjoy the final day of the 2024 Missouri State Fair on Sunday, Aug. 18, for Family Preparedness/Half Price Day, sponsored by Missouri Department of Public Safety – State Emergency Management. Receive $7 admission for adults and $2 admission for children ages 6-12 on this day. Unlimited carnival ride wristbands will be sold for $25 from carnival midway ticket booths.
Here’s a quick glance at the day’s schedule:
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Draft Horse Hitches, sponsored by BTC Bank – 1 p.m. in the Mathewson Exhibition Center.
Missouri Fiddling Championship – 1:30 p.m. on the Touchstone Energy Stage.
Pedal Pull – 10 a.m. in the Lowell Mohler Assembly Hall
Campfire Cooking demonstrations 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in the Conservation Building.
Livestock shows including beef cattle, dairy cattle, sheep and the swine sale.
Free entertainment all day across the grounds. Don’t miss the Supermatics on the Budweiser Stage, Professor Smart’s Comedy Science Show and Steve Gryb the Pied Piper of Percussion on the Kids Stage, sponsored by Your Local McDonald’s, Hedrick’s Racing Pig Show, sponsored by Jim’s Tire Service, the Children’s Barnyard, Hedrick’s Educational Petting Zoo, sponsored by Big Iron Auctions, and more!
POWRi 410 Sprint Cars, B Modifieds & Super Stock Races – Hot laps at 6 p.m. and heat races at 7 p.m. in the State Fair Grandstand, presented by CFM Insurance.
Join the fun on the Fair’s final day on Saturday, Aug. 18.
The Missouri Tigers 2024 season will come to an end on Thanksgiving weekend when they host the Arkansas Razorbacks.
This will be a crucial year for the future of the Arkansas program. Head coach Sam Pittman’s job will likely be at stake if a 4-8 season in 2023 is followed up by another disappointment. Here’s an early look at the 2024 Razorbacks.
The Arkansas offense was the second-worst in total yards per game (326.5) last year in the SEC and fifth-worst in points per game (26.6). There’s few reasons to believe the Razorbacks will take any major steps offensively in 2024.
In a hope to right the ship offensively, Arkansas hired a familiar face in Bobby Petrino. The hiring of the long-time coach will certainly make the team more interesting and entertaining but he’ll have a big challenge to help the Arkansas offense take a step forward.
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Arkansas will also have a new starting quarterback in Boise State transfer Taylen Green after KJ Jefferson transferred to UCF. Green has started the past two seasons for Boise State and threw for 1,752 yards, 11 touchdowns and nine interceptions in eight games in 2023.
Oct 14, 2023; Fort Collins, Colorado, USA; Boise State Broncos quarterback Taylen Green (10) throws in the first quarter at Sonny Lubick Field at Canvas Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports / Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
Arkansas returned most starters at running back and wide receiver but no rusher besides Jefferson tallied over 300 yards last year and only Andrew Armstrong eclipsed 400 receiving yards. Armstrong, entering his sophomore season, could grow into more of a weapon this season at 6’4″ and 201 lbs.
The Arkansas offensive line had its struggles in 2023, allowing the most sacks in the conference in 2023. This season, the Razorbacks are expected to have two transfers starting along the line.
Arkansas did add some exciting players to their skill position groups through the portal, however. Four-star running back Ja’Quinden Jackson comes over from Utah while three-star receiver Jordan Anthony joins the team after two seasons at Texas A&M.
The Razorbacks’ 2023 defense was close to the middle of the pack in yards per game (eighth, 357.12) but its 27.9 points per game was the second-worst. In SEC play, Arkansas allowed 32.3 points per game.
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But defensive coordinator Travis Williams did help the Razorbacks make some big strides in his first season. In 2022, Arkansas ranked No. 124 in the nation with 465.2 yards per game. In the first year under Williams, the defense jumped to No. 80. There’s reason to believe Williams will continue to steer his unit in the right direction.
In contrast to its offensive line, the defensive line was one of Arkansas’ best units in 2023. The Razorbacks had 41 tackles for loss and 29 total sacks in 2023. The group is led by Landon Jackson, a First Team All-SEC member in 2023 after compiling 6.5 sacks and 44 total tackles. The group possibly became stronger this offseason with the addition of Anton Juncaj, rated as the No. 12 defensive lineman available in the portal.
The Razorbacks did lose productive linebacker Chris Paul Jr. to Ole Miss through the portal but did add linebacker Xavier Sorey Jr. from Georgia in hopes to replace Paul’s presence over the middle of the field.
The Tigers will have to stay present on this late-November game instead of being distracted by the approaching selection day, set for the following Sunday. Rivalry week is always full of surprises and upsets. With Missouri expected to be in playoff contention, Arkansas could have a chance to play spoiler.
Missouri will be coming off of a two-week road trip with stops at South Carolina and Mississippi State. Arkansas, however, will be coming off three-straight home games ahead of the road trip. In the preceding week, the Razorbacks will be hosting Louisiana Tech.
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Date: Saturday, Nov. 30
Time: Afternoon window (2:30-3:30 kickoff)
Location: Faurot Field in Columbia, Missouri
Series History: Missouri leads 11-4
Last Meeting: Nov. 24, 2023: The Tigers saved a feast for the day after Thanksgiving, closing out a historic regular season with its highest scoring performance of the season in a 48-14 thrashing in Arkansas. The Tigers scored 41 unanswered points in the first thre e quarters before pulling their starters in the final quarter. Running back Cody Schrader decimated the Razorback defense, gaining a combined total of 220 yards and rushing for one touchdown.
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Head Coach: Sam Pittman, entering his fifth season with Arkansas.
Nov 18, 2023; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman during the fourth quarter against the FIU Panthers at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Arkansas won 44-20. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports / Nelson Chenault-USA TODAY Sports
Offensive Coordinator: Bobby Petrino, hired by Arkansas in November of 2023, entering his 42nd year in coaching.
Defensive Coordinator: Travis Williams, entering his second season with Arkansas. Former All-SEC Second Team linebacker with Auburn.
2023 Record: 4-8 (1-7)
Biggest Question: Will Pittman’s trust in Petrino be validated by a productive offense? Pittman’s job could depend on it.
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National Championships: 1 (1964)
Conference Championships: 13 (all in the SWC)
Bowl Record: 17-24-3
Last Bowl Appearance: 2022 Liberty Bowl vs. Kansas – 55-53 Win in 3OT
Early Opponent Preview Series:Murray State|Buffalo |Boston College|Vanderbilt|Texas A&M|UMass| Auburn|Alabama|Oklahoma|South Carolina| Mississippi State
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Meet The Freshman: Defensive Lineman Elias Williams
First Look of Mizzou in EA College Football 25 Video Game Revealed
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The fight over the future home of the Chiefs and Royals continues.
On Thursday, Missouri Governor Mike Parson said he expects the state to produce an aid package to keep the teams in the Show Me State by the end of the year Missouri governor says he expects public aid plan to keep Chiefs, Royals in state.
This comes after Kansas put together a plan last week to try bring both teams to its side of the state line. Kansas is offering to pay for up to 70 percent of the cost of two new stadiums over 30 years through sales tax and revenue (STAR) bonds.
Gov. Parson did not provide specifics of what Missouri’s deal for the teams would look like, but he’s confident Missouri will win out.
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“Missouri’s in a much better financial shape than Kansas is, but it depends on how much you want to tie up for a 25- to 40-year lease with a team,” Parson said. “I don’t know what that amount will be, but I think Missouri is in a much better position than what Kansas’ bonds are.”
Locally, Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas says the city and state never stopped talking to the teams. He is glad to see Missouri start to act at the state level.
“We’ve known all along that Missouri would continue to be competitive. The city of Kansas City will, as well,” said Lucas. “The Chiefs and Royals belong in Kansas City, Missouri.”
READ MORE: Discussions of new sales tax proposal for Chiefs stadium delayed by Jackson County legislators
Lucas thinks the state of Missouri may need to get involved in the stadium discussion as it may be an economic pool too deep for the city to swim in.
“The state of Kansas threw out some fairly extensive tools. I don’t know to what extent they are ones that could ever work objectively,” Lucas said. “I think that when we are talking about the size of particularly a football stadium, the tens of thousands of parking spots, the expense, the billions of dollars, we owe it to our taxpayers in Kansas City to make sure that conversation gets beyond just the 508,000 people in Kansas City and is something far more extensive.”
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Lucas sees Kansas’ STAR bond legislation as a clear violation of the border war truce between Kansas and Missouri. He says the failed vote in Jackson County doesn’t mean the state of Missouri wants the teams to leave.
READ MORE: Pasquantino hits go-ahead sacrifice fly as Royals rally to beat AL Central-rival Guardians, 2-1
“The border war truce was about not using economic development tools to poach a business from another jurisdiction that has been there for a long time. The Chiefs and Royals have been in Missouri for years. There are economic tools being used to steal them,” said Lucas. “Jackson County alone does not speak for the entire state of Missouri or the city of Kansas City, and those discussions are ongoing.”
Now, Lucas fears Kansas’ STAR bond legislation will start an arms race of incentives to keep the teams in the metro – to the franchises’ benefit, and not to metropolitan Kansas City as a whole.
“I think what people of our community will see, for better or worse, is competing incentives,” Lucas said. “Usually when you have a battle like that, it’s only the taxpayers who lose. That’s what happens in battles like this, but we’ll still work to get to the best deals possible.”