Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz spoke with the media, following his team’s first scrimmage on Saturday. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

COLUMBIA, MO — The University of Missouri football team held its first official scrimmage of training camp on Saturday, and though reporters weren’t allowed to attend, we did get a chance to speak with head coach Eli Drinkwitz after the 95-minute scrimmage ended.

Here’s a full transcript of what Drinkwitz said after meeting with the 12 reporters in the building:

Opening Statement

“Really tried to allow a lot of different players to get as many reps as we could on tape. Tried not to evaluate over, you know, holistically offense and defensive schemes. More about individuals who could help us and play. On the offensive side of the ball fundamentals, blocking, yards after catch, defensively, tackling, physicality, holding point of attack, pass rush ability, and then we did some special teams stuff. So a lot of good. I’m sure there’ll be a lot of bad. I’m sure there’ll be a lot of stuff that we can take off the tape. Just trying to get a measuring stick to where we’re at after two weeks. We’ll focus in on this week execution, and then we’ll have our next preseason scrimmage, or basically a preseason game next Saturday under the lights here in Faurot. So, took a step today, and with that, I’ll open up for questions.”

Question: You talked a couple Sundays ago, you said about two weeks you’d have an update on Ahmad Hardy. So, just where’s he been at these these couple weeks, and what’s next for him?

“He’s still continuing to do rehab. Nothing really to note. I misspoke then if I said that because it’s really a five-week block. The 22nd is when, that would be the first five weeks where we’ll sit down with the doctors and evaluate where he’s at. So right now he’s just, you know, he was out there this afternoon cheering on his teammates. He still isn’t able to get in the walk-through stuff, but he’s progressing in the weight room and in his speed training.”

Question: Yesterday at practice it looked like Cayden Green wasn’t there for the portion we were at. Is there an update on him and where he was yesterday?

“I was gonna say a joke. No, we just held him out, so nothing other to talk about there. Just he’s played a ton of football, and so we need to, for us right now, it’s really about finding who’s our third tackle, and the only way you can get the reps you need to see is if you pull somebody. You know, even in the scrimmage today, we sat a lot of guys. Dom (Giudice), Caden (Green), Cayden Lee didn’t get any reps. Jamal Roberts didn’t get any reps. Defense, Darris Smith, Robert Woodyard, Santana Banner, Chris Graves, guys who have played a ton of football in this league. There was really no reason for us to put them out there in jeopardy, and it’s really about developing the other part of our roster. So that was all it is with Cayden.”

Members of the Mizzou offensive line work on blocking skills during a warmup drill on Saturday. (Photo: Zach Lynn)

Question: Through the first couple weeks here and the scrimmage, what’s the takeaway about Austin Simmons and just how he’s running this offense so far?

“You know, just with everybody, there’s positives and negatives. I think the thing that I’ve been appreciative of Austin–he’s very coachable. He learns from his mistakes. He doesn’t let a mistake bother him. You know, he threw an interception the first drive today, and then came back and threw a touchdown. So, you know, I think that’s growth. I think it’s emotional consistency and maturity. Obviously, we got to take the takeaways off the tape. But you know, he’s very coachable and appreciative of that.”

Question: In your opening statement, you mentioned special teams. Obviously, there’s been a lot of turnover there this year. How do you feel about where that unit is at as we head toward kickoff?

“I mean, obviously, new coordinator. I think JP (John Papuchis) has done a really good job getting his schemes in, guys buying into what we’re doing. It looks different, feels a little different than what we’ve done in the past, which is good. As far as the specialists, you know, (Brett) LeBlanc and Blake (Craig) are back. We got to get consistency out of Blake. You know, today was not his most consistent day kicking field goals, which is surprising because he’s had two really good days before it. So that is something we got to work on. You know, Bruno’s (Reus) been good, but we won’t know until we put it all together. You know, but he’s been consistently punting the ball well. We just got to make sure our protection and coverage is good.”

Question: You said it’s about identifying your third tackle. Does that indicate you feel pretty comfortable with where you are at right tackle, or is that a competition still going on?

“I think we feel pretty comfortable with it right now. It doesn’t mean somebody couldn’t make a jump and force us to reevaluate it, but right now, I feel pretty good that Cayden (Green) and Luke (Work) are kind of our starters, and we got to figure out you know who’s our third tackle between Logan (Reichert) and Jack (Lange), and and even Whit Hafer. You know we’ve moved Whit around a ton, but he’s played tackle the past two days, and he looks really natural at it. So to have that flexibility with him, he can play all five positions. It’s pretty good.”

Question: We’ve seen a lot of Kensley (Louidor-Faustin) playing that star safety role. What do you think his progressions look like, having to teach a transfer how to play that position as opposed to having somebody that has kind of come through the system?

“He’s played star at Auburn, so wasn’t that difficult of a transition. So he’s done a nice job, I think. He’s kind of figuring out what what our expectations and standards are, how we approach practice, and how we approach the building every day. I think it’s been some growth for some of these transfers, understanding just the culture that we have and the standards that we set. But he’s he’s adjusted well. I think there’s been really good competition. I think C.J. Bass had a really good day too at the star position, had a takeaway. So pleased with where that position is going.”

Question: What kind of progression have you seen from Langden Kitchen since he first transferred in to now, obviously taking a bigger step this year?

“Langden’s been one of those guys that we’ve asked, you know, him and Darris to take on a bigger role as leaders and really make a jump, and he’s done an excellent job. Similar to what Cody (Schrader) kind of went through, being consistent, showing up, and demanding of himself, but now having a full year under his belt of exactly what the expectation is. Him and Coach (Brian) Early been really focusing on their pass rush and how to create more pass rush, and he’s been a nightmare for our guys to block.”

Question: There’s been a lot of rotation at corner these past couple of weeks from the parts of practice that we did to see. What’s your impression on that group as a whole so far?

“I think we’ve got quite a bit of depth. Obviously, Chris Graves has played a ton of football, and he’s probably got the best grasp of what we’re trying to do on one side, and then the other side, you know, between Sione (Laulea), Jahlil Florence, Nick DeLoach, Jackson Gates, as a freshman, has come a long way, Cam Keys. I think there’s a lot of of ability there, and it’s just about who’s going to make plays on the ball. You know, who can cause incompletes and then force takeaways? And so every day we’re just continuing to try to get reps and stack fundamentals and see who’s going to be that guy for us. But you know, Sione and Jahlil have have been exactly what we had hoped in getting those guys. I was proud of Sione today. He had a couple of really big tackles on duo play where he was the unblocked guy and he fit it pretty good. And then Jahlil had two big time plays, one in the red zone, one a  backed up portion incompletion. So it’s good stuff.”

Question: With Tristan Wilson. How have you seen him develop over the years, and how do you evaluate where he’s at now?

“Tristan has developed himself into a starter in the SEC and really one of our most versatile players. You know, with holding Dom out today, we moved Tristan into the center position, and I mean he handled everything from cadence to snap count to identification, and you know we didn’t really miss a beat. So, just impressed with his commitment. He’s got a great routine. That group works really hard. They’re in here every day at six, working on their bodies, working on their stretching, and he’s a guy that’s always putting in extra.”

Question: What have been your early impressions of Cayden Lee throughout fall camp? And what do you think he has to do to take kind of that next step before the season starts?

“Cayden and Austin have a connection from what they’ve done, and he’s got a natural feel and understanding. He’s been a really good player in addition for us in the return game. You know, just consistently catching the ball, making contested catches–that’s our challenge for every wide receiver, but him particularly, just continuing to challenge him to play bigger than he is.”

Question: I know you touched on how a lot of your returners kind of implement and maintain as pillars of voices for the culture. I’m curious some of the transfers who have been the ones that have kind of established themselves as voices of leadership in the locker room.

“That’s a great question. I think the biggest thing we talk about with the transfers is be uniquely you, but join us. And being you will never supersede what we’ve built here as a team and a brotherhood. And I think that message has been really well received. And I think the thing about the transfers is none of them have tried to come in and establish; they just tried to reinforce the message of the captains. And so, guys like Jaden Jones, who’s come in and battled some things, he had a health deal this summer and battled, but the way he battled through created respect for him from his teammates, and he’s used that respect in a positive way to enforce the culture. I think Cayden Lee’s been one of those guys too, similar to what Kevin Coleman did. I think Luke Work has just worked his his tail off, and so you know he’s gained respect of the players. I think that’s the biggest thing is those guys haven’t tried to come in and necessarily establish themselves as alphas. It’s just how do we just be a part of this culture and continue to enhance it?”

Mizzou QBs work on passing drills during training camp practice this past week. (Photo: Thomas Grove)

Training camp will last another two weeks, the the Tigers will begin prepping for the season opener on Thursday, September 3, at home against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Kickoff at Faurot Field that evening is set for 7 p.m., and the game will be televised live nationally on the SEC Network.

2026 MIZZOU TIGERS FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

DateTimeAtOpponentLocationTV
September
03, 2026 (Thursday)		7 pmHomeArkansas-
Pine Bluff		Faurot Field
September
11, 2026 (Friday)		7 pmAwayKansasLawrence, Kan. /
David Booth Memorial Stadium
September
19, 2026 (Saturday)		11:45 amHomeTroyFaurot Field
September
26, 2026 (Saturday)		TBDAwayMississippi StateStarkville, Miss. /
Davis Wade Stadium
October
03, 2026 (Saturday)		TBDHomeFloridaFaurot Field
October
10, 2026 (Saturday)		TBDHomeTexas A&MFaurot Field
October
17, 2026 (Saturday)		TBDAwayOle MissOxford, Miss. /
Vaught Hemingway Stadium
October
31, 2026 (Saturday)		TBDAwayArkansasFayetteville, Ark. /
Razorback Stadium
November
07, 2026 (Saturday)		TBDHomeTexasFaurot Field
November
14, 2026 (Saturday)		TBDAwayGeorgiaAthens, Ga. /
Sanford Stadium
November
21, 2026 (Saturday)		TBDHomeKentuckyFaurot Field
November
28, 2026 (Saturday)		TBDHomeOklahomaFaurot Field