The Missouri Tigers have all of the tools they need to shock the college football world and win more games than many would expect. However, it still isn’t super clear how the starting lineups will look when Mizzou takes on South Dakota to kick off the 2023 season. While the Tigers have depth and star power at some positions, other spots on the depth chart are wide open. We take a look at the potential Mizzou football depth chart on offense for 2023.
Mizzou Football Depth Chart Prediction: Offense
Quarterback
QB1: Brady Cook (Jr.)
QB2: Sam Horn (R-Fr.) OR Jake Garcia (So.)
QB3: Dylan Laible (Jr.)
The quarterback position has been the main topic of discussion amongst Mizzou fans this off-season. The Tigers added a talented transfer in Jake Garcia from Miami, but most of the fanbase is ready to start the Sam Horn era. The best guess is that neither of the two win the job, as Brady Cook seems poised to hold down the spot he won last summer. Cook is the most experienced QB of the bunch, which may not be saying much. But he gives the Tigers the best chance to win games right now.
Should Cook falter early in the season and the Missouri offense looks too stagnant, expect Horn or Garcia to take the reigns. Mizzou is returning a lot of talent and production on defense, and quality QB play is the only thing separating them from making a run at the SEC East crown.
Running Back
RB1: Nathaniel Peat (Gr.)
RB2: Cody Schrader (Gr.)
RB3: Tavorus Jones (R-Fr.)
Expect the Tigers to have a committee approach in their backfield this season with snaps shared among Nate Peat, Cody Schrader, and Tavorus Jones. All three backs are returning from last year’s squad, and all bring something different to the table. Peat is arguably the most dangerous of the bunch. Last season, he broke off plenty of big runs and proved his worth as a playmaker. However, his fumbling issues paved the way for Schrader to emerge as the lead back due to his reliability. Many Missouri fans think of one thing when they hear Schrader’s name, though, as he was the back that was caught and tackled at the 1-yard line against Georgia. Missouri eventually settled for a field goal, and later lost by four points.
Jones has the chance to prove that he is the best of both worlds and could easily take over the starting running back spot. Injuries and depth at the position have made it hard for Jones to see the field much, but he has many believers and will certainly be given his chance this season. Regardless of who starts games, it is likely each back will see their share of carries behind an improved offensive line.
Wide Receiver
X-WR- Theo Wease Jr. (Sr.), Chance Luper (Jr.)
Z-WR- Mookie Cooper (Jr.), Demariyon Houston (R-Sr.)
H-WR- Luther Burden III (So.), Mekhi Miller (So.)
It may appear the Tigers’ wide receiver group would be suffering from the loss of Dominic Lovett to Georgia, but in reality, Mizzou may have one of the most underrated receiving corps in the nation. Burden is a serious threat to be a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, Wease provides size and experience after spending three seasons with Oklahoma, and Cooper and Houston are dynamic playmakers. The room also features former Ole Miss Rebel Dannis Jackson and talented freshmen in Joshua Manning and Daniel Blood.
One of the most under-the-radar players in the conference, however, might be sophomore Mekhi Miller. He showed flashes during his freshman campaign, and don’t be surprised when defenses focus in on Burden, Wease, and Cooper and Miller sneaks by for big plays. This receiver room is very deep and whoever ends up starting at quarterback will have all of the help they could ask for.
Tight End
TE1: Tyler Stephens (Sr.)
TE2: Ryan Hoerstkamp (R-So.)
TE3: Max Wisner (R-Fr.) OR Brett Norfleet (Fr.)
While Missouri has a solid history of tight ends that includes Kellen Winslow Sr, Chase Coffman, Martin Rucker, and Albert Okwuegbunam, head coach Eli Drinkwitz has yet to utilize the position like Mizzou used to, and he will likely have to keep it that way. This year’s tight end room has size– Stephens is 6’6″ and Hoerstkamp is (somehow) the smallest of the bunch at 6’2″ and 240 lbs–but they lack star power and real playmaking ability.
The group is young, outside of Stephens, and if they block well and snag a couple of red zone touchdowns, it will be mission-accomplished for them. The most intriguing name of the bunch is Norfleet, a four-star freshman and top-20 tight end prospect in the country. It is currently unknown how much he will be utilized as a freshman, but he may have the highest ceiling of any tight end currently on the roster.
Offensive Line
RT: Marcellus Johnson (Gr.)
RG: Armand Membou (So.)
C: Cam’Ron Johnson (Sr.)
LG: EJ Ndoma-Ogar (Jr.)
LT: Javon Foster (Gr.)
The offensive line last season didn’t do Cook or the running backs any extra favors. This offseason, the Tigers made sure to beef up the line by adding transfers Marcellus Johnson and Cam’Ron Johnson. Pair them with one of the best-returning linemen in the SEC in Javon Foster, and Mizzou has a promising line in 2023. This lineup could see different variations with Connor Tollison at center and Cam’Ron Johnson at left guard, or replacing Ndoma-Ogar with Xavier Delgado. No matter the lineup, Missouri has options, which can’t be said about last year’s team.
The Tigers kick off the season with three straight home games against South Dakota, Middle Tennessee State, and Kansas State before a trip to St. Louis to battle Memphis. Those four games will be pivotal for Mizzou to figure out their offense before jumping into SEC play. If Missouri strings together enough wins at the beginning of the year, they could be looking at a ranked matchup with LSU on October 7. Though, that may be entirely up to their offense. Nonetheless, new offensive Coordinator Kirby Moore will have plenty of tools to work with.
Photo courtesy: Madeline Carter/Tribune / USA TODAY NETWORK
