Mizzou continues the grind through the home stretch of fall camp, as the season approaches

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Mizzou football team put practice No. 13 of the preseason in the books, on Tuesday morning, as 'execution week' continues into the home stretch of fall camp.

You can watch extended highlights of that practice in the video player below.

Throughout the first two weeks of fall camp, MU has put an emphasis on blending the old with the new ahead of the 2025 campaign, after head coach Eli Drinkwitz made quite a few key additions from the transfer portal in the offseason. Players who transferred in said that the returning guys have all welcomed them with open arms, as they adjust to a new pace in the Southeastern Conference.

"Myself and Jason Dowell are the two newest guys, he's a freshman, and they kind of just engulfed us in the room and into the culture," Ohio transfer Bralen Henderson said. "We spend a lot of time together, so just having that...That's why fall camp is great because even though it's all day, you know it can be tough, you're around the guys all day. I'm learning things about guys I didn't know. We do some team building and team culture things, where we break up into small groups and learn about other guys on the team, so just overall I feel like I've been really welcomed in."

However, now the attention has turned to execution, as position battles continue to rage on up and down the roster.

Coach Drinkwitz made it a point to add quite a bit of depth to each room, especially defensive end, following the 2024 season. Mizzou's edge rushing room consists of returners Zion Young and Darris Smith, as well as Georgia transfer Damon Wilson II, Appalachian State transfer Nate Johnson, Northwest Missouri State transfer Langden Kitchen and others.

Johnson said that coming from the Sun Belt to the SEC has been humbling, so far, as he gets up to speed before the season begins.

"I'll say the way we train," Johnson said when asked about the biggest difference between the two conferences. "It's very speed and strength. So, we do speed work everyday, we get in the weight room everyday."

You can watch the full press conference with Johnson in the video player below.

Throughout fall camp, coaches and players continue to talk about that impressive depth at defensive end. Johnson said it's a healthy competition in that room, day-in and day-out, as the guys help each other get better. Specifically, he mentioned that Young, Smith and Wilson, all veterans in the game, have taught him quite a bit since first arriving in Columbia.

However, there are quite a few guys who have made an effort to take on that kind of leadership and mentorship role in 2025, including wide receiver Marquis Johnson. Ahead of the start of fall camp, he mentioned that he wanted to begin using his 'grown man voice more.' On Tuesday, he said he's made some progress with that.

"I've started to speak up a little more. I was a little quiet at the beginning, but I'm starting to speak up a little bit more and starting to get used to being the guy who has to say something," Johnson said.

You can watch the full press conference with Johnson in the video player below.

He's one of the veterans in a receiver room that features quite a bit of talent, including Mississippi State transfer Kevin Coleman Jr. The senior had a stellar year for the Bulldogs last season and hopes to carry that production into his time as a Tiger. Johnson said that he's been impressed with how Coleman Jr. has stepped into his role on the team.

"He's been a leader coming in...and just already having a mindset of okay, I've got to be one of the leaders. So, that's one thing that we both do together, which I love," Johnson said

In addition to the healthy competition in the wide receiver room, Johnson has witnessed the ongoing quarterback battle, first-hand, during fall camp. He said both Beau Pribula and Sam Horn have had an 'awesome' approach to the competition through fall camp.

Following Saturday's scrimmage, Coach Eli said that both quarterbacks are still neck-and-neck in the fight to be the starter, noting that both are playing really good football right now.

Veteran tight end Brett Norfleet agreed with that sentiment after Tuesday's practice.

"I'm super proud of both of them," Norfleet said. "I've grown close with both of them. Like Coach Drink said, I mean, it's back and forth. Each has done some great things and I'm just excited to see how the battle shakes out."

You can watch the full press conference with Norfleet in the video player below.

Norfleet is set to make his return from injury, in 2025, after getting surgery on his shoulder following the conclusion of the 2024 season. He was limited for spring ball, but was full go for the beginning of this fall camp.

The St. Louis native said that, at the moment, he feels great with where he's at. He said there's been no better place to test his progress than in the two scrimmages that Mizzou has put in the books, so far.

"It's held up so far," Norfleet said. "I've been learning to not always lower my shoulder and maybe use my off-hand, as a stiff arm, maybe stick your foot in the ground. Then, when we're split flowing, just kind of taking less pressure off of [my shoulder].

As lots of players begin to feel more comfortable in their roles in fall camp, the offensive line is still undergoing quite a bit of changes. Mizzou is still hunting for the best five guys to take the field for the 2025 season, specifically at left tackle.

Coach Drinkwitz tried out a new combination of guys during Monday's practice, with Cayden Green taking over at left tackle, Dominick Giudice in at left guard, Connor Tollison remaining at center, Curtis Peagler plugging in at right guard and Keegan Trost over at right tackle.

Peagler met with the media, after Tuesday's practice and didn't talk too much about the changes. But, it's clear that he's excited about the opportunity he has to possibly see more playing time in the upcoming season.

The Alabama native has only seen action in a total of six games in his three seasons in Columbia. He said now he's feeling more confident in himself than ever.

"I think [confidence] was a big reason I took that next step, you know, just believing in myself and just putting in the work every day and staying after practice," he said. "Just communicating with my guys, especially Dominick [Giudice]. He has really changed that offensive line room, so shout out to him."

You can watch the full press conference with Peagler in the video player below.

Up next - Mizzou will tackle practice No. 14 of fall camp on Wednesday.