Welcome to the series, ‘What’s The Trend,‘ which highlights the biggest risers and fallers in the Mizzou Football world each week! Mizzou is coming off its first road loss of the season and has a much-needed
bye week coming up. Here are this week’s trends:
On the Rise
Matt Zollers and the Freshmen
Watching Beau Pribula go down was not ideal. He hadn’t been perfect, but he’d helped the Tigers to a 6-1 record which was good enough. Once he went down, a silence went through Memorial Stadium.
It wasn’t until true freshman Matt Zollers came in and threw for 138 yards and a touchdown that Mizzou fans regained some hope.
Zollers looked good and had a strong connection with freshman tight end Jude James, which could be a potential duo for years to come. Things aren’t looking up for Mizzou right now, but at least it has Zollers.
Josiah Trotter
Despite the team struggling to find success, the Tigers have a diamond in the rough. Redshirt sophomore Josiah Trotter has been dominating in his first season with the Tigers. Following his transfer from West Virginia, the linebacker has led the Tigers in tackles almost every game.
With at least one more year of college football required for Trotter, expect him to be a top defensive option for Mizzou moving forward.
Much Needed Rest
Back-to-back road games is never easy. This is ideal timing for the Tigers ahead of a big matchup against No. 3 Texas A&M at home. A make or break game for Missouri.
This is Mizzou’s last bye week of the season and if change was going to happen. Now’s the time.
On the Decline
Beau Pribula
One of the few injuries the Tigers didn’t want to give up. Unfortunate and could lead to some serious questions this offseason. Something to monitor as Zollers slides into the starting role.
The latest update from Eli Drinkwitz is that Pribula sustained a non-broken dislocation. No surgery is required, and Drinkwitz described it as a rare injury. His timeline to return is still TBD.
Kirby Moore, are you a Missouri Tiger?
First it was rumors about potentially leaving, and now Kirby Moore appears to have forgotten about a special someone named Ahmad Hardy.
On 3rd and goal from the 2-yard line, the Tigers had two opportunities to punch the ball into the end zone to give Mizzou the first touchdown of the day. In reminiscence of the 2015 Seattle Seahawks, the Tigers did not give the ball to Ahmad Hardy.
And instead of throwing a goal line interception? Beau Pribula out. Not ideal, Tigers fans.
Mizzou?
While I’d say there is still some debate whether the full Tigers’ season is basically over or not (I don’t think it is), Mizzou is not in the same spot it was three weeks ago.
There’s still opportunity for Missouri, but it might have to win out if it wants to sniff the College Football Playoff.
