Mizzou and Arkansas picked low in preseason SEC poll

With almost no support — the run game was mostly dreadful, and the receivers were mostly sophomores — quarterback Drew Lock’s freshman season was a struggle. He completed just 49 percent of his passes and went 2–6 as a starter. He enters his sophomore season with new coaching (offensive coordinator Josh Heupel takes over) and a much more experienced receiving corps at his disposal. His throwing motion is still museum-worthy, and there’s still time for him to develop into the star he was supposed to become, but last year proved how far he might still have to go.

Mizzou will have quantity and experience at receiver in 2016 — whether it will have quality remains to be seen. Freshmen and sophomores ended up accounting for 121 of the Tigers’ 186 receptions last season, but there are no excuses in 2016. Juniors J’Mon Moore and Nate Brown will be joined by Alabama graduate transfer and former blue-chipper Chris Black. Lock needs a security blanket, and in the spring, Black filled that role nicely. Tight end Sean Culkin might, too.
With Russell Hansbrough injuring his ankle on his first carry of the season, Ish Witter ended up leading the team in both carries and yards. Witter struggled, but he showed flashes of late-season development. He’ll be pushed by sophomore Trevon Walters and newcomer Damarea Crockett. Additionally, Missouri added Oklahoma graduate transfer Alex Ross at the end of spring ball, giving Heupel another option at this position. 
Injuries and depth issues doomed Missouri’s offensive line in 2015, and it remains the single biggest issue — not only was the line poor, but it was also full of seniors. Juniors Nate Crawford and Alec Abeln both have starting experience, and junior college tackle Tyler Howell is both enormous and well-regarded. But any injuries could be devastating.

– See more at: http://athlonsports.com/college-football/top-25/missouri-tigers-2016-preview-and-prediction#sthash.JITs8XZL.dpuf

With almost no support — the run game was mostly dreadful, and the receivers were mostly sophomores — quarterback Drew Lock’s freshman season was a struggle. He completed just 49 percent of his passes and went 2–6 as a starter. He enters his sophomore season with new coaching (offensive coordinator Josh Heupel takes over) and a much more experienced receiving corps at his disposal. His throwing motion is still museum-worthy, and there’s still time for him to develop into the star he was supposed to become, but last year proved how far he might still have to go.

Mizzou will have quantity and experience at receiver in 2016 — whether it will have quality remains to be seen. Freshmen and sophomores ended up accounting for 121 of the Tigers’ 186 receptions last season, but there are no excuses in 2016. Juniors J’Mon Moore and Nate Brown will be joined by Alabama graduate transfer and former blue-chipper Chris Black. Lock needs a security blanket, and in the spring, Black filled that role nicely. Tight end Sean Culkin might, too.
With Russell Hansbrough injuring his ankle on his first carry of the season, Ish Witter ended up leading the team in both carries and yards. Witter struggled, but he showed flashes of late-season development. He’ll be pushed by sophomore Trevon Walters and newcomer Damarea Crockett. Additionally, Missouri added Oklahoma graduate transfer Alex Ross at the end of spring ball, giving Heupel another option at this position. 
Injuries and depth issues doomed Missouri’s offensive line in 2015, and it remains the single biggest issue — not only was the line poor, but it was also full of seniors. Juniors Nate Crawford and Alec Abeln both have starting experience, and junior college tackle Tyler Howell is both enormous and well-regarded. But any injuries could be devastating.

– See more at: http://athlonsports.com/college-football/top-25/missouri-tigers-2016-preview-and-prediction#sthash.JITs8XZL.dpuf

With almost no support — the run game was mostly dreadful, and the receivers were mostly sophomores — quarterback Drew Lock’s freshman season was a struggle. He completed just 49 percent of his passes and went 2–6 as a starter. He enters his sophomore season with new coaching (offensive coordinator Josh Heupel takes over) and a much more experienced receiving corps at his disposal. His throwing motion is still museum-worthy, and there’s still time for him to develop into the star he was supposed to become, but last year proved how far he might still have to go.

Mizzou will have quantity and experience at receiver in 2016 — whether it will have quality remains to be seen. Freshmen and sophomores ended up accounting for 121 of the Tigers’ 186 receptions last season, but there are no excuses in 2016. Juniors J’Mon Moore and Nate Brown will be joined by Alabama graduate transfer and former blue-chipper Chris Black. Lock needs a security blanket, and in the spring, Black filled that role nicely. Tight end Sean Culkin might, too.
With Russell Hansbrough injuring his ankle on his first carry of the season, Ish Witter ended up leading the team in both carries and yards. Witter struggled, but he showed flashes of late-season development. He’ll be pushed by sophomore Trevon Walters and newcomer Damarea Crockett. Additionally, Missouri added Oklahoma graduate transfer Alex Ross at the end of spring ball, giving Heupel another option at this position. 
Injuries and depth issues doomed Missouri’s offensive line in 2015, and it remains the single biggest issue — not only was the line poor, but it was also full of seniors. Juniors Nate Crawford and Alec Abeln both have starting experience, and junior college tackle Tyler Howell is both enormous and well-regarded. But any injuries could be devastating.

– See more at: http://athlonsports.com/college-football/top-25/missouri-tigers-2016-preview-and-prediction#sthash.JITs8XZL.dpuf

With almost no support — the run game was mostly dreadful, and the receivers were mostly sophomores — quarterback Drew Lock’s freshman season was a struggle. He completed just 49 percent of his passes and went 2–6 as a starter. He enters his sophomore season with new coaching (offensive coordinator Josh Heupel takes over) and a much more experienced receiving corps at his disposal. His throwing motion is still museum-worthy, and there’s still time for him to develop into the star he was supposed to become, but last year proved how far he might still have to go.

Mizzou will have quantity and experience at receiver in 2016 — whether it will have quality remains to be seen. Freshmen and sophomores ended up accounting for 121 of the Tigers’ 186 receptions last season, but there are no excuses in 2016. Juniors J’Mon Moore and Nate Brown will be joined by Alabama graduate transfer and former blue-chipper Chris Black. Lock needs a security blanket, and in the spring, Black filled that role nicely. Tight end Sean Culkin might, too.
With Russell Hansbrough injuring his ankle on his first carry of the season, Ish Witter ended up leading the team in both carries and yards. Witter struggled, but he showed flashes of late-season development. He’ll be pushed by sophomore Trevon Walters and newcomer Damarea Crockett. Additionally, Missouri added Oklahoma graduate transfer Alex Ross at the end of spring ball, giving Heupel another option at this position. 
Injuries and depth issues doomed Missouri’s offensive line in 2015, and it remains the single biggest issue — not only was the line poor, but it was also full of seniors. Juniors Nate Crawford and Alec Abeln both have starting experience, and junior college tackle Tyler Howell is both enormous and well-regarded. But any injuries could be devastating.

– See more at: http://athlonsports.com/college-football/top-25/missouri-tigers-2016-preview-and-prediction#sthash.JITs8XZL.dpuf