Missouri’s running back room took another blow this week, and the timing could hardly be worse.
Head coach Eli Drinkwitz said backup tailback Malae Fonoti is done for the season after suffering a non-contact ACL tear in the Tigers’ opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Fonoti, a Montana transfer, was the first back off the bench for Mizzou in the Week 1 win, but his night lasted only five snaps before the injury ended it.
The play came on Fonoti’s third carry of the game. On a second-quarter first-and-10 run up the middle, he reached the line to gain, then grabbed at his right knee and went down.
He got himself off the field, but he never returned. Fonoti, a Hawai’i native, is scheduled to have surgery Wednesday.
“Very disappointed for him and his family. Obviously, had an outstanding summer and fall camp, and has earned a role and opportunity,” Drinkwitz said.
“Not only was he playing as a back for us, but he was playing a lot on special teams and contributing there. And you know, it's an unfortunate injury.
This game doesn't owe us anything. It's a really cruel game, but we do know he'll be back, and he'll be back stronger than ever.
And we're going to support him through it.”
With Fonoti out, Missouri heads into Friday night’s rivalry game against Kansas even thinner at the position. The Tigers and Jayhawks are set for a 7 p.m. kickoff in Lawrence, and Mizzou will be missing two of its top-four running backs.
Ahmad Hardy has already been ruled out as he continues to recover from an offseason gunshot wound that struck the femur in his left leg. Drinkwitz said Hardy still has not practiced with the team, and he has previously made it clear that Hardy would need two full weeks of practice at game speed before he could be considered ready to play.
Because Hardy had not practiced by Tuesday, Sept. 8, he is likely to miss the Sept. 19 game against Troy and would need to get back on the field before the end of this week to have a shot at being available for Mizzou’s SEC opener at Mississippi State on Sept. 26.
That leaves Xai’Shaun Edwards in line to move up behind expected starter Jamal Roberts. Edwards, who transferred from Houston Christian this offseason, made his Missouri debut against UAPB and turned seven carries into 45 yards.
Behind that duo, the next options appear to be Lee’s Summit native Preston Hatfield and former walk-on Anthony Favrow. Hatfield is a freshman spring signing who found the end zone with a fourth-quarter touchdown last Thursday.
“I mean, (the running back room is) probably the biggest point of concern we have right now with the depth chart,” Drinkwitz said. … “I don't feel great, you know, but it is what it is, and we'll do the best we can.”
In Other News...
Missouri Heads To Kansas With More Than Rivalry Bragging Rights
Kansas and No. 23 Missouri will renew their historic football rivalry in Lawrence, giving the matchup a little extra edge beyond the usual early-season measuring stick. Both teams arrive off opening-week wins, and coaches Lance Leipold and Eli Drinkwitz have each framed the game through the lens of preparation, poise and what this rivalry still means in a landscape where so few old border battles remain on the calendar.
For Missouri, there is also the practical matter of getting healthier up front, with left tackle Cayden Green possibly back from injury for the trip. The long pause in the series only adds to the stakes, because unless the teams cross paths in the College Football Playoff, they will not see each other again until the 2031 and 2032 seasons, making this one of those rare games where history, timing and timing again all seem to matter at once. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Faces A Border War Test That Could Swing On One Matchup
The Border War is back on the calendar, and Missouri heads into David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium knowing this one has the feel of more than just an early-season measuring stick. Kansas brings an offense shaped by coordinator Andy Kotelnicki that has been built to push the pace and stress defenses, while the Tigers are preparing for the kind of game where one clean matchup or one busted assignment can change the tone fast. Add in the rivalry history and the buzz around both young quarterbacks, and the setup is exactly what you would expect when these two get together.
For Missouri, the challenge is not simply matching intensity but handling the swings that come with a game like this on the road. The atmosphere should be lively, the stakes feel bigger than a normal nonconference date, and Foxs broadcast slot only adds to the spotlight. The quarterback play on both sides is part of what makes it intriguing, but the real question is whether Missouri can manage the one area that could tilt everything before the night is over. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Just Got A Huge Border War Injury Question
Missouri got a notable boost on the offensive line this week when left tackle Cayden Green returned to practice Monday and appears on track to be available for Fridays Border War matchup with Kansas, barring any setbacks. For a team that wants to keep its offense on schedule and its quarterback upright, Greens presence matters, especially after he sat out the season opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
The bigger question mark remains Ahmad Hardy, who is still working back from an offseason gunshot wound and has not practiced yet. His return timeline is still unclear, leaving Missouri to wait on one of the more intriguing pieces of its backfield depth as the rivalry game approaches. [Read more 🡒]