Mizzou Fall Camp Just Revealed A Key Special Teams Battle

Mizzou's fall camp practice highlights include standout performances by kickers fresh from injury and transfers, notable roster updates, and strategic offseason weight gains among key players.

Missouri’s fall camp work on Thursday came with a change of scenery and a better look at where the Tigers are early in August. Media members were allowed to watch seven periods of practice, and for the first time this week, the team was outside on the outdoor practice field. The heat was obvious.

The kicking operation was one of the first things on display. Blake Craig and Brunno Reus both handled field goal work and each finished 3-for-3.

Craig, who is working back from the torn ACL he suffered in Missouri’s Week 1 game against Central Arkansas in the 2025 season, is pushing to return. His absence mattered last year, when he was fully healthy in 2024 and hit 70.6% of his field goals, including 6-for-9 from 50 yards or longer.

He drilled Missouri’s only make from beyond 50 in 2025 with a 55-yarder against Central Arkansas, and the Tigers attempted just one other kick from that range, a miss by Oliver Robbins against Mississippi State.

Reus, who came to Columbia by following special teams coordinator John Papuchis from Florida State, is expected to handle kickoffs and has also been working on extra points and field goals.

The return game featured the familiar group of Cayden Lee, Donovan Olugbode, Shaun Terry II and DaMarion Fowlkes. Among Missouri players who handled multiple kicks or punts in 2025, only Fowlkes and Jamal Roberts are back in the mix; Kevin Coleman Jr. has graduated, while Tavorus Jones and Marquis Johnson entered the transfer portal.

There was also work for the wide receivers, tight ends and running backs near the back of the end zone. Jude James and Terry each came away with a particularly acrobatic catch.

Another notable development came from Missouri’s updated online roster, which showed a number of height and weight changes, especially across the line and at linebacker. Daeden Hopkins went from 237 pounds to 250, Darris Smith from 240 to 265, Nicholas Rodriguez from 215 to 225, Dante McClellan from 216 to 227, Logan Reichert from 344 to 335, Tristan Wilson from 302 to 311, Zack Owens from 340 to 330, Jack Lange from 305 to 318, Elias Williams from 270 to 286, Jason Dowell from 305 to 296 and Marquis Gracial from 322 to 315.

Hopkins had already discussed his offseason bulk with the media on media day, saying it was meant to help him improve against the run. After practice, Smith also pointed to a run defense play from Hopkins during his availability.

Lange, a sophomore backup tackle, also added noticeable weight, a development that should help him when he’s dealing with bigger SEC edge rushers.

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