Mark Mitchell has become one of the more intriguing names in the transfer conversation, even if the legal side of things is still sorting itself out.
A preliminary injunction has opened the door for any four-year player to get a fifth season, and Mitchell is right in the middle of that discussion. He’s not technically in the transfer portal yet, which means he technically can’t transfer anywhere at the moment. Still, the announcement is out there that he intends to enter the portal, and for now it sounds like he just needs a few more legal hurdles cleared before that becomes real.
There’s already one school believed to be moving hard on him: Kentucky. The Wildcats are said to be after Mitchell and former Michigan State big man Jaxon Kohler as they look for interior help. Kentucky also talked with former Auburn, UCF, George Mason and UNLV wing Keyshawn Hall, though those talks went in a different direction.
Kentucky currently has Zoom Diallo, Milan Momcilovic, Malachi Moreno and Alex Wilkins, along with three open spots. Missouri, though, still has to be kept in the conversation.
The Tigers do not have an open spot right now, but there are creative ways around that. They also were said to be pretty tapped out financially at the end of the portal, but a player like Mitchell could change that equation and help free up the money needed to keep him in Black and Gold.
For now, this is still a situation to watch. The NCAA is likely to keep fighting some of these rulings, and Mitchell’s path has another wrinkle too: he signed a professional deal when he played in the NBA Summer League. There are a lot of boxes left to check, but as the source of this kind of legal fight usually goes, players and agents have generally come out ahead.
Elsewhere, Nathan Hurst finished his top opposing players series with a look at Gunner Stockton, the undersized quarterback from Athens who can be a real nuisance because of what he does outside the pocket. Stockton’s scrambling stands out as one of the toughest parts of his game to defend.
He has a natural feel for slipping pressure without killing the play, which buys time for receivers and also creates rushing chances when defenses lose track of him in coverage. With a strong supporting cast around him, Stockton enters the season with real championship expectations and a chance to establish himself among the SEC’s best quarterbacks.
Hurst also previewed Oklahoma defensive lineman Taylor Wein, who gave Missouri’s offensive line problems last fall.
On the football side, new Mizzou beat writer Colin Simmons took a look at FCS transfer Xai’Shaun Edwards and what he could mean for the running back room. Edwards arrived this offseason expecting to begin as RB3, and he still has three seasons of eligibility left. With Hardy’s tragic injury, he now has a real chance to earn touches.
Roberts said the competition in the running back room was fierce through the spring and summer at fall camp media day, but he also pointed to Edwards as someone who can help. “He’s gonna run the ball this season.
He’s definitely a good ball runner,” Roberts said. “He’s got a lot of good football knowledge, and he’s gonna be a good addition for our backfield.”
Missouri’s approach here is pretty clear: find the best smaller-school back available and let the system work. Drinkwitz has already turned Larry Johnson, Tyler Badie, Cody Schrader and Ahmad Hardy into elite college backs, and even the combination of Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll produced 1,400 rushing yards.
Rock M Radio also has a new BTBS episode on the way, with a special guest. The hint is out there.
In Other News...
Eli Drinkwitz Just Sent A Strong Message About Mizzou QB Matt Zollers
Eli Drinkwitz has made it clear that Matt Zollers is not just part of Missouris quarterback room for the moment, but someone the program views as a real piece of its future. The Tigers coach pointed to Zollers leadership and the fact that he has stuck with the team through a difficult stretch, a sign that the staff values more than just what shows up on a depth chart.
Zollers is not the starter right now, but the confidence Drinkwitz showed in him says plenty about where Missouri thinks this can go. For a program always balancing the present with the next wave of talent, having a young quarterback who has earned that kind of trust matters, even if his bigger opportunity has yet to arrive. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzous Backfield Battle Just Took On Bigger Early-Season Stakes
Missouris backfield picture already had some moving parts with a new offensive coordinator in Chip Lindsey, but the first week of fall camp has added a different kind of uncertainty. All-American running back Ahmad Hardy is not practicing while he continues rehabilitation, leaving the Tigers to sort through early reps without the player who was supposed to anchor the offense.
Jamal Roberts has moved to the front of the line and figures to carry a bigger load when the season opens, while FCS transfer Xai'Shaun Edwards sits third in the rotation and could also help on returns. The next checkpoint comes in about two weeks, when the staff is expected to have a better sense of Hardys status, and that timeline now carries real weight for how Missouri shapes its offense before September arrives. [Read more 🡒]