The Missouri Tigers’ spring practice kicked off with a focus on field goals, and Blake Craig was at the center of it all. Standing confidently around the 10-yard line, Craig, the former Liberty North High star, was nailing kick after kick. Sure, they were short, but for Craig, each successful attempt was a victory in itself.
“I feel stronger than ever,” Craig shared. “It’s a blessing to be back out there with the guys, and the spring has been amazing so far.”
Craig’s journey back hasn’t been easy. He tore his ACL in the 2025 season opener against Central Arkansas, a setback that sidelined him for the entire year.
Reflecting on the immediate aftermath, Craig described it as a surreal experience. “Growing up, I was never hurt, and I’m like, ‘I’ll never be hurt.’
Seeing my family and things like that was a little bit upsetting, but I think that 24-hour period changed my life for the better.”
Despite spending most of last season on the sidelines, Craig’s positivity never wavered. He’s brought that same outlook into spring camp, seeing adversity as a catalyst for growth.
Yet, he knows there’s always room for improvement. “I don’t want to make it seem like I’m anywhere below where I was before,” he said.
“If anything, I’m at the same point, if not better. I’m just trying to improve that consistency.”
Rehab has been a mix of physical and mental challenges. Craig has been working diligently with the team’s trainers to regain his strength and explosiveness.
But the mental hurdles have been just as significant. “It’s more mental than anything,” Craig admitted.
“It’s that mental barrier of, ‘Can I do this?’”
Physically, Craig feels he’s back to full strength. While he hasn’t participated in kickoffs during spring practices, he’s involved in every other aspect.
With the Tigers adding kicker Brunno Reus from Florida State, Craig is ready for some healthy competition. “He’s a very good specialist overall.
Combo guy and everything,” Craig said about Reus. “Obviously, the kickoff job is competitive.
I’m ready to compete for that, though, and I believe that I can do it.”
The special teams unit has another new face-coordinator John Papuchis, also from FSU, who joined Mizzou at the end of last year. Papuchis was drawn to Missouri for several reasons, including the chance to work with head coach Eli Drinkwitz.
“I’ve been following what’s been taking place here at Mizzou,” Papuchis noted. “When the opportunity presented itself, I was going to jump on it.
I admire what (Drinkwitz has) built here, and having the opportunity to work with him is terrific.”
Papuchis emphasizes the critical role of special teams, not only for the team’s success but also for players aiming to catch the eye of NFL scouts. The Tigers have been experimenting with various players in the return game, with Papuchis highlighting wideouts DaMarion Fowlkes, Cayden Lee, Shaun Terry II, Donovan Olugbode, and Naeshaun Montgomery as potential game-changers.
“I’m excited about that group,” Papuchis said. “I think whoever it ends up being is going to be a weapon for us and have a chance to be a game-changer.”
Craig has enjoyed working under Papuchis, appreciating the new dynamic. “Blake was really the first person I met in terms of the players and specialists because he was doing some rehab work when I got here,” Papuchis recalled.
“Right off the bat, we hit it off. He’s super talented, (and) he has an unselfishness and a team mindset to him.”
While Craig’s dedication and character shine through, his spot as the starting kicker isn’t set in stone. Reus’s versatility adds a new dimension to the Tigers’ special teams.
But for Craig, it’s all about focusing on the present and cherishing every moment on the field. “Every day I get to go out there and do this for the university that I grew up watching, (and) it’s amazing,” he said.
“I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”