Over the course of the next several weeks, the SoBros Network crew will be going around the landscape of the SEC, team by team, previewing the upcoming American tackle football season. Up next, our 2022 Missouri preview!
2022 Missouri Preview
I have no real idea of what to make of this Missouri Tigers program as it heads into its third year under head coach Eli Drinkwitz. On one hand, Mizzou has certainly proven capable of surprising some people – just ask Florida. On the other, it seems this program is fiercely mediocre, having to really scrap just to get to a bowl game. They are consistently inconsistently consistent. So, what’s different about 2022? As Missouri will look to break out of that stagnant mediocrity, they’ll have a wealth of talent coming in as Drinkwitz fielded one of the best recruiting classes in Mizzou’s history. He was also active in the transfer portal. So, there’s plenty of reason for optimism that things could finally start getting from good to great in Columbia.
But, there’s a huge question mark on offense – quarterback. Connor Bazelak is off to greener pastures at Indiana, leaving Brady Cook as the incumbent. But, there is some intriguing competition at the position when you factor in Tyler Macon and Sam Horn. Macon adds that dual-threat dynamic to the position that the others don’t. Meanwhile, Horn has the pedigree to be a franchise quarterback for Mizzou, but will likely have to choose between playing quarterback and playing in MLB. Whoever ends up with the starting job will try to get the vertical passing game going again for a program that was once lethal when it came to explosive plays.
And, if they can get that part sorted out, boy is the cupboard stocked on offense. To me, it starts with Mizzou’s prized five-star catch, WR Luther Burden III. The freshman is generating some buzz heading into the 2022 for his game-changing ability at the position. Even outside of Burden, this should be one of the better receiving units in the SEC – senior Tauskie Dove returns, and they still have Dominic Lovett and Mookie Cooper in the rotation. Do-it-all running back Tyler Badie is off to the Baltimore Ravens – but I imagine Drinkwitz will look to deploy a rotation between Elijah Young, Stanford transfer Nathaniel Peat, and Cody Schrader – three capable backs. It’ll all be bolstered by an experienced offensive line anchored by OT extraordinaire Javon Foster. That’s a formidable group if the quarterback situation plays out in Mizzou’s favor.
On defense, well…they’re more than “just a quarterback away,” if you will. But, the good news is that it’s hard to be much worse than the Tigers were on defense a year ago – teams could run it at will against that Missouri front. The Tigers lose some beef up front, but they do have a pair of All-SEC-contending defensive ends in the disruptive Isaiah McGuire and Trajan Jeffcoat. They have some intriguing pieces in the secondary, beginning with CB Kris Abrams-Draine, who will likely be playing on Sundays following his tenure in Columbia. And, they have a solid safety tandem between Martez Manuel and Jaylon Carlies. There are some pieces to build around on this defense – I imagine with another year’s worth of experience, that secondary will be better at limiting big plays. But, the bottom line is this unit has to get better at defending the run if they want to improve in 2022.
2022 Tigers Schedule
Thursday, 9/1: vs. Louisiana Tech – All due respect to Louisiana Tech – a historically good “mid-major,” but they’re coming off a 3-9 season and now they have a new head coach to show for it. It’s going to take time on that rebuild, and I don’t think they’ll be able to hang with the Tigers.
Saturday, 9/10: @ Kansas State – This one might be a sneaky good game if the Tigers are still figuring out their quarterback situation. This isn’t an easy road trip, but Missouri should have the talent to pull it off comfortably.
Saturday, 9/17: vs. Abilene Christian – 3-0, wrap it up.
Saturday, 9/24: @ Auburn – This is the pivot game for me when I look at this schedule. I don’t know how good Auburn is going to be this year, but it’ll be a tough road trip regardless. If Mizzou can pull this one off and end September at 4-0, who knows where the season could go from there?
Saturday, 10/1: vs. Georgia – Nope.
Saturday, 10/8: @ Florida – I know optimism is on the rise in Gainesville, and they have a dual threat quarterback who is getting some Heisman love and even some first round NFL Draft love. But, they’re in a bit of a rebuild in their own right, and the Tigers have had their number in the past. Don’t automatically give the Gators this one.
Saturday, 10/15: BYE
Saturday, 10/22: vs. Vanderbilt – The Commodores are simply too far behind to confidently pick against any SEC team right now. That doesn’t mean they’re incapable of surprising – I’m just saying that as it stands now, why would you pick ’em against anyone?
Saturday, 10/29: @ South Carolina – I know Shane Beamer has that hot shot factor and the Gamecocks way overdelivered in 2021, but I’m not ready to anoint Beamer the chosen one yet. This game could go a long way in determining how many bowl teams the SEC fields in 2022. It’s a toss-up for me.
Saturday, 11/5: vs. Kentucky – The Wildcats have become the model of consistency under Mark Stoops, who is getting the most out of his talent. I don’t expect 2022 to be any different. Kentucky has a future NFL prospect at quarterback in Will Levis, and while they lost their OC to the Los Angeles Rams, there’s still plenty reason to be excited in Lexington.
Saturday, 11/12: @ Tennessee – Even though Drinkwitz has been at Missouri a season longer than Josh Heupel has been at Tennessee, it feels like the Vols are ahead of Missouri in the “program rebuilding” race. This game being in Knoxville doesn’t help – the Vols are the sexy surprise pick in the SEC for a reason.
Saturday, 11/19: vs. New Mexico State – Everybody has to get that tune-up in before Rivalry Week!
Friday, 11/25: vs. Arkansas – I think Arkansas is going to be really good this season. Now, you never know what could happen on a Black Friday game, but I think this Razorbacks team is going to still be in the hunt at this point in the season, and will look to put an exclamation point on the season at the expense of the Tigers.
Crystal Ball
As weird as this may be to say, I thought last year’s game between Mizzou and Kentucky was a massive one in the second week of the season. I thought whoever won that game would be in a position to have a surprise year in the SEC East. That’s not to toot my own horn…though, *toot toot*. That’s to illustrate how the talent was there for something special to happen, but once Mizzou was out of the race early, it felt like a war of attrition just to get to six wins and a bowl game. But, they were in that conversation early in 2021, and the talent is there in 2022 to see that potential through. They may have the biggest question of all on offense, and their schedule isn’t a cake walk, but if Drinkwitz can successfully navigate the quarterback situation and improve, even remotely, on defense, this could be the year that 2021 could’ve been. My gun-to-my-head prediction, though? Shocker…..6-6. That schedule just freaks me out – getting Kansas State out of conference, with road trips to Auburn, Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee, and an Arkansas team that should be pretty good. It’s hard to find the real upset potential here, and the Tigers are going to need a little bit of that to surprise in 2022.
MORE 2022 SEC SEASON PREVIEWS
For more authentic and irreverent sports talk, check out our friends at 440 Sports – covering the SEC and all things Nashville sports. If you haven’t already, subscribe to the College Football Roundup on Apple Podcasts, follow us on Spotify, or wherever you take in your podcasts.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD, #BeBetter, and ‘Minds right, asses tight.’ “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, Yankee Candle, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
Check out the SoBros Shop. Become a Patron. Give us money for no reason. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Watch on YouTube.