Mizzou football was once a hub for tight end production. From All-Americans like Chase Coffman and Michael Egnew in the late 2000s to effective rooms in the late 2010s led by Albert Okwuegbunam, tight ends were a primary source of offense.
Somewhere along the way, the Tigers lost that pedigree.
Under head coach Eli Drinkwitz, tight ends have been utilized more as an extension of the offensive line rather than another receiving weapon. There’s some validity in that approach when running backs such as Ahmad
Hardy, Jamal Roberts, Cody Schrader and Tyler Badie saw great success as focuses of the offense.
But through four games this season, the lack of production from the position has become difficult to overlook.
Mizzou’s tight ends have combined for just seven receptions for 55 yards and a touchdown, all coming from Brett Norfleet. That puts the Tigers well behind their production at the same point in recent seasons. The room had 17 catches for 189 yards and four touchdowns through four games last season, 11 catches for 58 yards in 2024 and six catches for 67 yards in 2023.
Norfleet, who emerged as Mizzou’s primary receiving tight end over the past three seasons, has seen his production drop sharply. Through four games last season, he had 14 catches for 122 yards and three touchdowns. This season, he has seven catches for 55 yards.
He currently ranks 18th among SEC tight ends in receiving yards. Seven tight ends in the conference have already surpassed 100 yards.
The rest of the room has yet to contribute as receivers.
Jude James and Jordon Harris have zero catches through four games. Harris entered the season with coaches expecting him to take a step forward as a receiver, but his impact has primarily come as a blocker.
That blocking role has become increasingly important as Mizzou’s ground game has struggled to consistently create explosive plays. The Tigers have rushed for 623 yards and six touchdowns on 4.2 yards per carry, with some of the struggles coming from Hardy’s absence. Blocking on outside-zone plays has been an issue, however.
This could make the tight ends’ potential involvement against Florida even more significant.
Offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey has a history of getting tight ends involved. During his two seasons at North Carolina, tight ends combined for 137 catches, 1,733 yards and 16 touchdowns. Last season at Michigan, the position accounted for 56 catches for 604 yards.
Mizzou also brought in Alex Atkins as its tight ends coach this season. Atkins spent last season at LSU, where he coached Trey’Dez Green, who recorded 33 catches for 433 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Tigers have the coaching history and personnel to use the position more frequently. Now, they need to find a way to translate it onto the field with Austin Simmons under center.
Mizzou’s tight ends once helped define its offense. Against Florida, they could have an opportunity to become an X-factor yet again.
