What Worked and What Didn’t for Missouri Football in 2024
After Missouri football’s 2023 season came to a close, the team faced significant turnover. Key contributors departed, including 10 rotational players and five NFL draft picks from a Cotton Bowl-winning defense. Along with the SEC’s top rusher and two reliable offensive linemen, these losses left a void in the Tigers’ roster. Despite these departures, the team remained hopeful, with many still believing that the College Football Playoff (CFP) was within reach.
This optimism was rooted in Missouri’s offseason efforts to reload, particularly through the transfer portal. The Tigers added 17 players to their roster, many of whom were expected to play key roles right away. Though Missouri’s playoff hopes were dashed after a close loss to South Carolina, the team’s resilience and the impact of these new additions are worth evaluating. This post-season review takes a closer look at how the portal transfers performed and whether they successfully filled the gaps left by departing players.
Replacing Cody Schrader’s Impact
Replacing the production of Cody Schrader was always going to be a tough task. Schrader had an outstanding season, leading the SEC with 1,627 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. His performance was pivotal to Missouri’s success, and he played a key role in the team’s rushing attack. To replace him, Missouri brought in running backs Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll, but injuries, particularly to Noel, shifted the rotation.
Noel, who missed several games due to injury, showed flashes of Schrader’s production when healthy. Against South Carolina, he ran for 150 yards and a touchdown, showcasing his impressive outside zone vision, a skill that head coach Eli Drinkwitz has praised. When comparing Schrader and Noel’s averages, the two are nearly identical. Schrader averaged 5.8 yards per carry, while Noel is averaging 5.7 yards per carry. However, Schrader’s ability to churn out yards after contact was more pronounced, averaging 3.07 yards after contact, compared to Noel’s 2.87 yards.
When fully healthy, Noel’s performance has come close to replicating Schrader’s impact. However, his limited availability has prevented him from being a full-time contributor, and as a result, the running back rotation is averaging 137.9 rushing yards per game this season, down from the 149.7 yards per game from Schrader and backup Nathaniel Peat last year. It’s clear that while Missouri has managed to fill the void left by Schrader to some extent, injuries and inconsistency have hindered the running back group’s full potential.
Cornerback Play: Adjusting to the Loss of Two NFL-Caliber Defenders
Missouri faced another significant challenge in replacing two NFL-bound cornerbacks: Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and Kris Abrams-Draine. The Tigers turned to Clemson transfer Toriano Pride Jr. and a mix of in-house players, including redshirt freshman Nicholas DeLoach. Throughout the season, DeLoach has emerged as a key contributor, surpassing Pride on the depth chart, while Dreyden Norwood, a returner from last season, has played a prominent role as the team’s top cornerback.
Through the first ten games of the season, Missouri’s cornerbacks have been targeted 78 times, allowing 46 catches for 762 yards and four touchdowns. In comparison, last season, Rakestraw, Abrams-Draine, and Norwood allowed 59 catches for 713 yards and five touchdowns. While the numbers aren’t drastically different, the 2024 cornerback unit has been more vulnerable, allowing a higher completion percentage (58.9% compared to 53.3%). Replacing two top-tier cornerbacks was always going to be a challenge, and the regression in coverage numbers is a reflection of that. Despite this, DeLoach and Norwood have shown promise and should continue to develop over the coming seasons.
Offensive Line: Transitioning to New Faces
The offensive line was another area of concern for Missouri following the loss of two mainstays: left tackle Javon Foster and left guard Xavier Delgado. These two had been the cornerstones of the line for years, providing stability and consistency. To fill these gaps, Missouri added Marcus Bryant, a first-team All-AAC player from SMU, and Cayden Green, a former top recruit who started as a freshman at Oklahoma. Both were expected to step in and make an immediate impact, but as with many position groups, offensive lines require time to develop cohesion.
The early returns have been mixed. While Bryant and Green have shown flashes of their potential, they have also struggled with pressure. Bryant has allowed 19 pressures, while Green has given up 10, which is significantly higher than the 13 and 17 pressures allowed by Foster and Delgado last season. This season, Missouri’s offensive line has allowed 29 combined pressures, which has resulted in 5 sacks and 5 QB hits. Last season, Foster and Delgado allowed just 30 combined pressures, with fewer sacks and hits.
One of the key differences in Missouri’s running game has been the shift to running more frequently to the right side of the line, particularly on outside zone plays. Against South Carolina, for example, the Tigers had success running to the right behind right tackle Armand Membou, as they couldn’t be stopped by the Gamecocks. However, the left side of the line, particularly Bryant and Green, has not been as consistent in providing similar support. As the season progresses, the hope is that the offensive line will gel and improve, but for now, the group has been a step back from the past few years.
Defensive Front: Injuries and Pressure Concerns
Missouri’s defensive front has also been affected by key injuries, particularly at defensive end. The Tigers lost first-round draft pick Darius Robinson and Nyles Gaddy, and in their place, they brought in Zion Young, Darris Smith, and Eddie Kelly Jr. However, injuries to Smith and Joe Moore have stunted the defensive line’s ability to generate consistent pressure. Smith was ruled out before the season even started, while Moore suffered a midseason injury.
This lack of depth has shown in the Tigers’ ability to generate pressure. Last season, Robinson and Walker combined for 5.5 pressures per game and over a sack per game. This season, Young and Walker have combined for just 4.5 pressures per game. Missouri ranks 52nd in the nation in team sacks, compared to 12th last season. While the interior defensive line, led by transfers Chris McClellan and Sterling Webb, has held its own, the edge rushers have not been able to replicate last season’s production.
While the injury issues have certainly hurt the defensive front, Missouri has still managed to hold steady in many areas. The Tigers’ defense remains solid, but the lack of pressure from the edge has been a key issue. Had Smith and Moore remained healthy, there’s a good chance the defense would have been more effective in generating the pass rush that was so critical last season.
Missouri’s transfer portal additions have had a mixed impact, with some areas improving and others experiencing setbacks. While the running back group, particularly with Noel’s health, has shown promise, the cornerback and offensive line positions have not seen the same level of success. Injuries have also played a significant role, particularly in the defensive front, where depth has been a major issue. Overall, while the portal additions have helped Missouri remain competitive, they have not been enough to maintain the same level of success as last year’s team. The Tigers have made strides, but as they prepare for the 2024 season, there’s still work to be done.
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