Eli Drinkwitz is already looking past being merely solid.
After steering Mizzou to double-digit wins in 2023 and 2024 and then an 8-win season in 2025, Drinkwitz has given the Tigers three straight years of relevance. That has been a real shift in Columbia. But as fall camp opened Monday, he pointed to one part of the offense that he thinks has not lived up to the standard he wants.
It was not the run game. That side of the offense got a major boost from Ahmad Hardy in 2025, and Drinkwitz’s concern was elsewhere: the tight ends.
“I think one of the disappointing things that we have not consistently done with (tight end) Brett (Norfleet) is utilized him further down the field,” Eli Drinkwitz told reporters. “The guy’s 6-6.
The further down the field he gets the taller he gets in comparison with the other players. We need to challenge ourselves to utilize the tight ends to be an advantage for us this year.”
Drinkwitz wants that part of the passing game to become more than an afterthought. He made it clear that he has challenged his offensive staff to find ways to get the tight ends involved deeper downfield, with Norfleet specifically in mind.
The message is pretty simple: if Mizzou wants to move from good to truly dangerous in 2026, Drinkwitz believes the offense has to keep evolving. For him, that means getting more out of the tight end room and turning that group into a real weapon.
And with Hardy’s status looming as he rehabs and recovers from a gunshot wound, the Tigers could have even more reason to push for that next step if he is available for the full season or most of it.
In Other News...
Ahmad Hardys Status Just Became A Bigger Mizzou Camp Concern
Ahmad Hardy was back around Missouris fall camp on Monday, but not back in the work that matters most. The running back watched practice while continuing to recover from a gunshot wound to his left leg, a reminder that the Tigers are still waiting to see what their backfield really looks like once camp starts to speed up.
Eli Drinkwitz said Hardy will stay out of practice this week and spend his time on rehab and walkthroughs instead, with the next meaningful update not expected for about two weeks. Missouri is also monitoring transfer defensive lineman Donta Simpson, who did not take part in drills, while kicker Blake Craig continues to trend in the right direction after his ACL injury by hitting multiple kicks. [Read more 🡒]
Missouris Newest Receiver Could Speed Up One Big 2026 Question
Missouri added a pair of offensive transfers from Ole Miss in wide receiver Cayden Lee and quarterback Austin Simmons, giving the Tigers a built-in connection to lean on as they sort through the next phase of their offense. Lee and Simmons have spent the last three seasons working together, which matters in a room where timing and trust can speed up the transition for everyone around them.
Lee also has been encouraged by what he has seen from Missouri since arriving, pointing to a positive experience with the coaching staff and his new teammates. The fit looks natural on paper, but one of the more interesting parts of this addition is how quickly that comfort level can translate once the Tigers get into real offseason work. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Landed Cayden Lee Through A Connection Fans Never Saw Coming
Cayden Lees move to Missouri came together quickly after he entered the transfer portal on Jan. 17, and the Tigers came away with a receiver who should fit neatly into what they want to do on offense. Missouris coaching staff, including receivers coach Jacob Peeler, helped shape the pitch, and the addition gives the Tigers a player who arrives with a clear path to major responsibility in the passing game.
What makes the transfer stand out, though, is the less obvious guidance behind it. Lee leaned on a mentorship relationship with Cam Newton while weighing his options, and that kind of outside perspective can matter a lot when a player is deciding where his next stop should be. For Missouri, it is another sign that the recruiting and transfer process can run through unexpected channels, even when the destination ends up looking like a straightforward football fit. [Read more 🡒]