When John Papuchis stepped into his new role as Missouri's special teams coordinator, he brought a clear vision and a powerful message. He kicked things off by showing the team a screenshot from last season’s NFL playoffs, highlighting a kickoff return unit.
Each player was marked with their draft status and career longevity. The message?
Special teams can be your ticket to the NFL.
Papuchis laid it out plainly: if you're not a top draft pick or a star player, your path to the NFL likely runs through special teams. "Every one of our guys wants that opportunity," Papuchis emphasized.
"On a 48-player active roster, if you're not the first-round pick or the number-one running back, you're going to play a role on special teams." He’s urging players to seize their chances now and build a resume that NFL scouts will notice.
The Tigers are in need of a special teams overhaul. Last season, they ranked 116th out of 136 FBS teams in ESPN’s SP+ metric.
The previous year wasn’t much better, with a ranking of 98. Personnel issues compounded their struggles, especially when starting kicker Blake Craig tore his ACL in Week 1, leaving a significant gap.
Schematic problems were also evident. A failed fake-punt against Alabama and a costly 48-yard fake punt by Texas A&M highlighted vulnerabilities. Oklahoma exploited weaknesses in Mizzou’s field goal protection to turn the tide in their favor last November.
After six seasons with Erik Link at the helm, head coach Eli Drinkwitz decided it was time for a change. “We needed some fresh ideas,” Drinkwitz explained. “Coach Link did a great job, but sometimes you’ve got to bring in new blood.”
Enter Papuchis, who brings a wealth of experience from stints at Florida State, Nebraska, and North Carolina. He knows the region well, with family ties in Missouri, and has a history with Drinkwitz from their time in North Carolina.
Papuchis is focused on cultivating team-wide commitment to special teams. "Most guys aren't going to be first-round picks," he noted.
"Scouts want to know about a player's special teams production. It’s about increasing value."
The return of kicker Blake Craig, who’s back to full health, is a boost. The Tigers also added two punters via the transfer portal: Mark Shenouda, known for his 82-yard punt at Tennessee State, and Brunno Reus, who followed Papuchis from Florida State.
Papuchis sees potential in the punt return unit, with key players like Ole Miss transfer Cayden Lee and standout returner Donovan Olugbode taking reps. But improvement is needed across all units-coverage, protection, and returns.
Papuchis plans to emphasize fundamentals and a game-changing mindset. “Being good in special teams drills makes you better on offense and defense,” he said.
“Our mantra is a one-play-and-out mentality. We want to impact games, no matter the unit.”
With Papuchis at the helm, Mizzou’s special teams are poised for a transformation. The focus is clear: embrace the fundamentals, seize opportunities, and change the game.