Mizzou football holds itself to high standards as kickoff approaches
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
One of No. 11 Mizzou's keys to success in 2023 was blocking out the outside noise, both positive and negative. The Tigers have been clear throughout fall camp that they are taking that same approach in 2024.
The team has surely heard the chatter. The expectations are high for the upcoming season, with a slew of players garnering preseason recognition and MU finding itself in the preseason AP Top-25 for the first time since 2015. However, players and coaches said that the expectations are not what drives them, it's the internal standards.
"We kind of understand what's in front of us and we understand, you know, the pressure that's put on us, but at the end of the day we love to perform under pressure. That's something we've been focusing on this last week of fall camp and something we're gonna have to do throughout this season," tight end Tyler Stephens said. "In this league no matter who you play, whether it's Murray State, Buffalo, Texas A&M, it doesn't matter, college football is college football."
You can watch the full interview with Stephens in the video player below.
Stephens is a part of an offense that may have the highest expectations on them of all, with the sheer amount of carryover the unit has from the 2023 season. He said coming into a new year there's always a new set of trials and tribulations, but added that this team is ready for them after weeks of working in fall camp.
Many fans might think that the success on the field in an 11-2 season in 2023 forged a new kind of culture in that locker room, but wide receiver Mekhi Miller made it clear that this team has stayed very consistent. The Tigers are not satisfied, in fact, 'something to prove,' is still the mindset, as it was last season.
Miller is entering his third year in Columbia and feels like this is the season that it's time for him to step up as even more of a leader on this football team.
"This is my third year, so just understanding that I'm probably into that upper level of being a leader. I got to be a leader now. I'm no longer the young person in that group, so I got to help the younger ones out and help them understand and help them fun and go out there and compete," he said.
You can watch the full interview with Miller in the video player below.
During his time in Columbia, Miller has had the opportunity to learn from some of the best receivers in college football, including Luther Burden and Theo Wease Jr. He said the knowledge that those two and others have imparted on him is endless. As a whole, though, Miller emphasized just how much camaraderie there is in a room that has a lot of competition for playing time.
"We always have fun, whether it's from the players or to the coaches...We always have fun. Everyday is just different. We always have something to joke and laugh about," he said. "We just go out there and do the same thing when we get out on the practice field, just out there helping each other and pushing each other to become better."
On the defensive side, despite losing five standouts to the NFL, Mizzou still has a goal of being one of the top defenses. In fact, during fall camp, Tiger safety Tre'vez Johnson said that he does not feel like this defense has taken any steps back.
On Thursday, Mizzou cornerback Dreyden Norwood was asked the same question. 'What have you seen during fall camp to make you believe that this defense has not taken a step back?'
"The guys that came back, they hold everybody to a standard. It's a standard that we play with and if somebody is not playing to that standard, you know, we're going to let each other know. We're going to step up to that standard every day,' he said.
You can watch the full interview with Norwood in the video player below.
The defense has already had to face some adversity in fall camp, though. On Tuesday, defensive end Darris Smith, who just transferred to Columbia from Georgia, suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice.
"Darris is just a freakish athlete," defensive end Eddie Kelly Jr. said. "Ever since I met him, he's always been a different type of guy. Like, once you get to meet him and see how he really is, you'll see what I'm saying. But, Darris is just a freakish athlete. We're gonna miss him."
You can watch the full interview with Kelly Jr. in the video player below.
Head coach Eli Drinkwitz mimicked that message on Wednesday, as he said he was devastated for Smith since he was having such a big fall camp for Mizzou. However, the team is embracing the next man up mentality, as the season approaches.
MU is two weeks away from kickoff against Murray State on Aug. 29, as fall camp is winding down.
