Missouri
Recruiting Reset: The 2023 class presents a unique opportunity to upgrade Missouri’s offensive line
You recognize the previous cliche suggesting soccer is a recreation received and misplaced within the trenches? It’s a cliche for a purpose. And it’s a cliche which has held true at Mizzou.
5 instances within the final 20 seasons the Tigers have completed the season ranked. The frequent theme amongst them is the power to win the road of scrimmage. Mizzou had a mixed 20 offensive or defensive linemen named to an All-Convention crew after the 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2014 seasons. These groups had various variations, however the by way of line was their means to dictate the sport by way of the road of scrimmage.
Mizzou Trenches All-Convention Gamers
| Yr: | Offensive Linemen | Defensive Linemen |
|---|---|---|
| Yr: | Offensive Linemen | Defensive Linemen |
| 2007 | Adam Spieker (1st) | Lorenzo Williams (1st) |
| 2007 | Colin Brown (HM) | Stryker Sulak (2nd) |
| 2008 | Kurtis Gregory (2nd) | Ziggy Hood (1st) |
| 2008 | Tim Barnes (HM) | Stryker Sulak (2nd) |
| 2008 | Colin Brown (HM) | Jaron Baston (HM) |
| 2010 | Tim Barnes (1st) | Aldon Smith (1st) |
| 2010 | Elvis Fisher (HM) | Jacquies Smith (2nd) |
| 2010 | Brad Madison (HM) | |
| 2013 | Justin Smith (1st) | Michael Sam (1st) |
| 2013 | Kony Ealy (1st) | |
| 2014 | Mitch Morse (2nd) | Shane Ray (1st) |
| 2014 | Markus Golden (2nd) |
Eli Drinkwitz has made it recognized he’s attempting to get the defensive position again to its “D-Line Zou” roots. He’s added 4 blue chip recruits to the defensive position (Travion Ford, Kyran Montgomery, Marquis Gracial and DJ Wesolak) within the final two recruiting lessons. He’s nonetheless trying to find his first such addition alongside the offensive line.
This could be the yr to seek out it.
Missouri has supplied 36 offensive linemen within the 2023 class, in keeping with Rivals. It’s a transparent precedence for the workers, and that shouldn’t come as a shock. The crown jewels of the category may come within the type of Cayden Inexperienced (Lee’s Summit North), Logan Reichert (Raytown) and Miles McVay (East St. Louis). All three are ranked among the many high 10 offensive tackles within the nation for this yr’s recruiting class, in keeping with Rivals, and all three reside inside 150 minutes of Columbia.
Touchdown all of them could be a pipe dream. Touchdown two of three would make for a heck of a category. Touchdown at the very least one looks like a necessity.
These are the sorts of gamers who can alter the trajectory of a positional group. Missouri’s offensive line has outperformed its expertise stage in recent times.
Think about if the expertise takes a large step ahead.
So many elite offensive sort out recruits rising up inside driving distance from Missouri just isn’t the norm. Getting such gamers to signal with Missouri is much more uncommon.
Missouri has signed eight blue chip offensive line recruits within the Rivals period. Andy Bauer, Evan Boehm and Kyle Riggs are the one offensive line recruits who ranked among the many high 10 at their respective positions who made the choice to signal with Missouri within the final twenty years.
That’s the corporate Inexperienced, Reichert and/or Mcvay may maintain.
Drinkwitz has confirmed a capability to “get by” with strong offensive line play. This recruiting class presents a chance to enhance the expertise up entrance the way in which he has at huge receiver, defensive position and working again previously couple of lessons.
Recruiting could be fickle and it’s uncommon any particular person participant is deserving of the “can’t miss” label, however this group of three qualifies. It’s the yr of the offensive lineman, and the Tigers are on the prowl.