Members of the Mizzou football practice passes during training camp on Thursday. (Photo: Terrance Williams)
COLUMBIA, MO — The University of Missouri football team began training camp for the upcoming season on Monday, August 3. STLBigTimeSports was there everyday to watch and here’s a recap of what we witnessed as the Tigers began prepping for the new season.
Unlike pro football, media is only allowed to watch the first 20-30 minutes of practice at the college level. So we didn’t get the see everything. Reporter Terrance Williams and I did take notes on what we saw before they sent us all back to the media room.
When the Tigers lined up for stretching before practice, the three team captains who lead the team and called out what stretch procedure was next was offensive tackle Cayden Green, center Dominick Guidice, and linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez.
Once practice began, the Tigers usually opened with special teams drills. The kickers would attempt field goals, usually medium-range tries from 35-45 yards. Returning kicker Blake Craig did try and make two kicks from 54 yards on Day 1.
Mizzou kicker Blake Craig works on field goals during practice last Thursday. (Photo: Terrance Williams)
The Tigers also practiced punt returns. The team has not listed an official “starter” at punt return, but the players lined up to receive punts and practicing their return maneuvers were DaMarion Fowlkes, Cayden Lee, Naeshaun Montgomery, Donovan Olugbode, and Shaun Terry II.
It wasn’t until Day 4 (Thursday) that the Tigers ran any actual plays in front of the media. We didn’t see anything dramatic or surprising — mostly handoffs into the line and short passes to receivers near the sideline or across the middle.
The interesting we did get to see though was when head coach Eli Drinkwitz called for the first-team offense and defense, here’s who took the field:
FIRST-TEAM OFFENSE: QB Austin Simmons; RB Jamal Roberts; WRs Donovan Olugbode, Caleb Goodie, Cayden Lee; TE Brett Norfleet; OL (from left to right) Cayden Green, Tristan Wilson, Dom Giudice, Curtis Peagler, Luke Work.
FIRST-TEAM DEFENSE: DE Langden Kitchen; DL Marquis Gracial, Jalen Marshall; EDGE Darris Smith; LBs Nicholas Rodriguez, Robert Woodyard Jr.; CBs Chris Graves Jr., Jahlil Florence; S Santana Banner, Kensley Louidor-Faustin, Trajen Greco.
Those groups ran plays against each other, with a light bit of hitting.
The second-team offense and defense also worked against one another. Here’s who took the field for those groups:
SECOND-TEAM OFFENSE: QB Matt Zollers; RB Xai’Shaun Edwards; WRs Naeshaun Montgomery, Shaun Terry II, DaMarion Fowlkes; TE Jordon Harris; OL (left to right) Jack Lange, Zack Owens, Whit Hafer, Khalief Canty Jr., Logan Reichert.
SECOND-TEAM DEFENSE: DE Jaden Jones; DL Jason Dowell, Mark Hensley; EDGE Daeden Hopkins; LBs Jeremiah Beasley, Dante McClellan; CBs Nick DeLoach Jr., Cameron Keys; S Elijah Dotson, CJ Bass III, Jayden McGregory.
Mizzou has not released any official depth charts yet. So there is no guarantee that those are the official starters and second-teamers, but that is who we saw on the field when Drinkwitz called for those specific units.
We also know that there are still position battles going on for the offensive line and defensive secondary. So those positions could be changed at anytime. Also, Mizzou subs in & out a lot on defense. So most of those players, even if they aren’t starters, are likely to play a lot.
Members of the Mizzou offensive line work on blocking drills during practice last Thursday. (Photo: Terrance Williams)
The final practice of the week was on Saturday. There were NFL scouts from the Houston Texans, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, and Minnesota Vikings all in attendance.
The Tigers worked on their two-point conversion plays. The first two tries by the offense were successful. The next three were won by the defense.
Both sides were fired up about these plays. The defensive guys celebrated a lot harder about the stops they made than the offense did over its scores. But both sides were very passionate about these plays.
The Missouri Tigers huddle up to begin training camp practice last Thursday. (Photo: Terrance Williams)
Final thing we notice was something we didn’t see. No Ahmad Hardy.
Mizzou’s All-American running back is still recovering from a gunshot wound suffered months ago and wasn’t at any practice we saw this week. Drinkwitz has said Hardy is “on schedule”, but we still don’t know what that schedule is.
Once he begins to practice and is approved for full contact, then we’ll have a better idea of when Hardy will become available for game action.
The Tigers are off on Sunday, but will return to practice on Monday, with an eye on their opening night matchup against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Thursday, September 3.
That game will kickoff at 7 p.m., and will be televised nationally on the SEC Network.
2026 MIZZOU TIGERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | TV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 03, 2026 (Thursday) | 7 pm | Home | Arkansas- Pine Bluff | Faurot Field |   |
| September 11, 2026 (Friday) | 7 pm | Away | Kansas | Lawrence, Kan. / David Booth Memorial Stadium |  |
| September 19, 2026 (Saturday) | 11:45 am | Home | Troy | Faurot Field |  |
| September 26, 2026 (Saturday) | TBD | Away | Mississippi State | Starkville, Miss. / Davis Wade Stadium | |
| October 03, 2026 (Saturday) | TBD | Home | Florida | Faurot Field | |
| October 10, 2026 (Saturday) | TBD | Home | Texas A&M | Faurot Field | |
| October 17, 2026 (Saturday) | TBD | Away | Ole Miss | Oxford, Miss. / Vaught Hemingway Stadium | |
| October 31, 2026 (Saturday) | TBD | Away | Arkansas | Fayetteville, Ark. / Razorback Stadium | |
| November 07, 2026 (Saturday) | TBD | Home | Texas | Faurot Field | |
| November 14, 2026 (Saturday) | TBD | Away | Georgia | Athens, Ga. / Sanford Stadium | |
| November 21, 2026 (Saturday) | TBD | Home | Kentucky | Faurot Field | |
| November 28, 2026 (Saturday) | TBD | Home | Oklahoma | Faurot Field |