The SEC’s Wednesday night injury report for Mizzou’s matchup with Texas A&M brought a little of everything: the expected absences, a handful of names to watch, and a few updates that should catch Tiger fans’ attention.
The biggest headline is the cluster of seven Mizzou players listed as questionable. Among them is OT Cayden Green, fresh off being named Outland Trophy National Player of the Week.
Safety Kensley Louidor-Faustin also landed on the questionable list after earning a spot in the most recent MV3. Langden Kitchen and Darris Smith are still questionable after sitting out last week’s game against Florida.
There is some good news for Mizzou, too. CB Jahlil Florence and TE Brett Norfleet are both listed as probable.
Texas A&M’s report is cleaner overall, though it does include one notable name: wide receiver Mario Craver is questionable.
Green’s honor comes on the heels of his work in Mizzou’s 45-17 win over Florida, where he extended a three-game run without allowing a pressure, sack, or QB hit. The Tigers also rolled up 220 rushing yards in that game.
Another offensive bright spot from the Florida win was Caleb Goodie Sr., who turned in a breakout performance with two catches for 67 yards and a touchdown. With his ability to stretch the field vertically, his plays carry real punch when they hit.
Mizzou now turns its attention to Texas A&M, a matchup that comes with its own edge. As Nate Edwards put it in his preview, “But that was other years!
Now it’s this year! Mizzou is riding a high of euphoria but should still be motivated to take down the bully that keeps giving Eli Drinkwitz atomic wedgies.
It’s a great season to finally punch back.
Beat A&M.”
There was also roster news on the women’s basketball side, where Harper said of Slaughter, Schreacke, and Kroenke: “I think we’re very blessed to have three people that have been here. They know the ropes.
They love Mizzou,” Harper said. “(They) are unbelievably good people, and they’re people that we trust in the locker room.
They’re just really, really great leaders for this program, and they’re awesome, and I love them dearly.”
Those three will try to help Mizzou WBB get back to the NCAA Tournament.
On the basketball front, Mizzou’s non-conference schedule includes Illinois, and BartTorvik.com has the Illini ranked seventh overall in its preseason projections. Illinois is expected to be dangerous on offense, with mediocre outside shooting offset by heavy offensive rebounding and plenty of trips to the free throw line.
The bigger question is whether the defense can take a step forward. Last season, Illinois finished second in offensive efficiency and 20th on defense, a split that marked the difference between Final Four and national title-level contention.
The Braggin’ Rights game is set for December 20th.
Josh Matejka also took a broader look at where Mizzou stands after the Florida win, warning that the Tigers still aren’t a finished product. The message was simple: the Florida result was huge, but it can’t be the ceiling.
Nathan Hurst’s Week 6 betting column had its own sharp edges, too. He noted that Week 5 came within a half-point hook of being excellent, then laid out a 4-2 overall week, including a 1-2 mark on Best Bets. That leaves him at 9-9 on Best Bets and 22-14 overall for the season.
And on the audio side, Rock M Radio’s Before the Box Score revisited Mizzou’s blowout of Florida and the Tigers’ massive win.
In Other News...
Missouri Freshman DJ Jones Faces A Far Bigger Fight Than Football
Missouri freshman offensive lineman DJ Jones has spent this season dealing with something far bigger than the normal grind of a college football fall. Jones underwent a heart transplant and is recovering, coach Eli Drinkwitz said, after preseason evaluations uncovered a significant heart problem that sent him to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida.
Jones has not played this season and remains away from the team while Missouri continues its games, a reminder that his journey is now measured in medical updates rather than reps or snap counts. For a freshman trying to begin his college career, the focus has shifted entirely to recovery, and the Tigers are left pulling for a much more important comeback than anything on the field. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Fans Finally Got The Update They Needed On DJ Jones
Missouri fans got the update they had been hoping for on freshman offensive tackle Johnnie DJ Jones, who recently underwent a successful heart transplant and is now recovering. The need for the procedure was discovered during the Tigers freshmen intake, turning what should have been an ordinary start to college football into a deeply personal medical battle for one of the programs newest players.
Jones was treated at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., where the care team and donor family drew gratitude from coach Eli Drinkwitz and the Missouri community. For a team and fan base that had been following the situation closely, the news brings a measure of relief, even as Jones begins the long next stretch of recovery. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzous Front Seven Faces A Much Tougher Test This Week
Missouris front seven spent last week making life miserable for Florida on the ground, holding the Gators to 42 rushing yards on 25 carries and limiting running back Jadan Baugh to 13 yards on 12 attempts. Linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez was rewarded for his part in that effort, earning SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Week after piling up 11 tackles, a strong sign that the Tigers are getting consistent play from the middle of their defense.
The challenge changes quickly now, with Texas A&M bringing a different kind of problem to the table in quarterback Marcel Reed. Eli Drinkwitz and Missouris players have been stressing sound tackling and clean execution as the week goes on, because the front seven will need to carry over the same urgency against a much more mobile threat and do it without any drop in focus. [Read more 🡒]