Columbia, Mo. ? As strong as the veteran presence has been for Missouri (8-2, 4-2), the influx of first- and second-year players has been just as impressive.
Through 10 games, the Tigers have put 11 true or red-shirt freshmen on the field; three of them started games this season.
Players such as Chase Daniel, Chase Coffman and Jared Perry have benefited from that strategy by coach Gary Pinkel over the past few seasons.
“I think it’s really great because you had guys like Jared Perry and Danario Alexander play a little bit as freshmen and get better,” Pinkel said. “It’s really good for the program.”
At season’s end, the team will have to replace 22 senior players, a group with 35 victories and a class that had a major hand in the Tigers ascending.
Freshman tight end Andrew Jones got his first career start at tight end for Chase Coffman, who was nursing a turf toe injury while true freshman defensive back Kenji Jackson got a start at the nickel defensive back position. Each provided a glimpse of the team’s future after the 22 seniors leave.
Jackson skipped out on red-shirting and has been on the field a lot more in the last three weeks. So far he has 34 tackles and an interception on the season.
“You see him in practice and you know he is ready to go,” Pinkel said. “He’s going to be a high-level player.”
The most intriguing replacement for next season, without question, will be at quarterback. Missouri has had only two starting quarterbacks over the past eight seasons – Daniel and Brad Smith.
The only returning signal caller, freshman Blaine Gabbert, has seen time in five games this season.
