In what may have been a rather underwhelming performance, it was safe to say Mizzou may have sleepwalked through their final non-conference game against UMass on Homecoming Saturday night. Perhaps the Tigers
played down to their competition against the Minutemen, but there were still some key players that stood out in the 42-6 win in Columbia.
Things get real when No. 10 Alabama comes to town after their bye week on October 11th, but for now — here is your latest MV3 from the Week 5 win to close out the non-conference.
- Ahmad Hardy
Hardy continues to deliver as the Mizzou running back position consistently impresses. The transfer from ULM had 24 carries for 130 yards and three touchdowns to further his early season dark horse Heisman campaign. The heavy workload for Hardy against an opponent like UMass may be a cause for concern. However, he has no signs of slowing down quite yet and there is a well-deserved bye week ahead for this sophomore stud.
Hardy currently leads the country with 730 rushing yards and is tied with nine rushing touchdowns. Pretty, pretty good.
2. Kevin Coleman Jr.
Kevin Coleman Jr. continues to be the go-to wide receiver for the Beau Pribula. They have the right chemistry at the moment. For the second time this season, Coleman had double-digit receptions for 100-plus receiving yards. He only has one touchdown reception on the year, so he’ll need to find the endzone at some point during the later stages of SEC play. Though, there’s no doubt that he has the talent and experience to do so.
3. Jalen Catalon
Missouri’s secondary unit was in need to step it up a notch and they answered the bell. While you can’t learn a whole lot against an opponent like UMass, the senior safety Jalen Catalon showed why he’s capable of putting together an impressive game. Catalon led the Mizzou defense with five total tackles on the night — including a pass deflection. Mizzou will need to rely on Catalon’s experience against talented SEC quarterbacks down the stretch and his performance against UMass was a step in the right direction.
Honorable Mention: Beau Pribula
Who is your MV3 from the Week 5 win over UMass? Let us know in the comments!
