Mizzou football previews Week 1 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Mizzou football team has officially turned the page from preseason training to Week 1.
On Thursday, the Tigers will open up the 2026 season against Arkansas-Pine Bluff and head coach Eli Drinkwitz held his first game-week press conference of the season, on Saturday, to preview the action. Coach Drinkwitz was joined at the podium by his newly-named captains, which you can find a list of below.
- Left tackle Cayden Green
- Center Dominick Giudice
- Linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez
- Running back Jamal Roberts
- Safety Santana Banner
- Kicker Blake Craig
Three of those captains, Giudice, Green and Rodriguez, were picked by the coaching staff, while the remaining three were selected by the players.
For a guy like Roberts, who grew up in St. Louis and decided to stay at Mizzou following the 2025 season to finish his legacy, being voted a captain by his teammates means the world.
"It just mean a lot. I mean, just coming in and starting my legacy and, you know, just being voted team captain just means a lot to me. You know, the Brotherhood, they believed me to step up in that leader road and that's something that I wanted to do this year," he said.
You can watch the full press conference with Roberts in the video player below.
In addition to revealing his team captains, Coach Eli also gave media members a significant update ahead of Week 1 action: left tackle Cayden Green will not play. The leader of the Tigers said he was not going to get into the medical report of it all, but they are doing what's best for Green, at this point.
On the depth chart, which the Tigers released on Saturday, sophomore Jack Lange is listed behind Green at left tackle, while junior Whit Hafer is the No. 2 man at right tackle. Both guys will now have a chance to work into the action, on Thursday, and Drinkwitz said he's confident in both of their abilities.
"You know, Jack's been a guy that you know was recruited with a lot of potential and we've really poured into him to develop that. I think he's done a really good job of buying into the to how [his coaches] have been coaching him and he's had plenty of reps. There's been multiple days where he would play left tackle with the ones and has done an excellent job with it," Drinkwitz said. "Whit Hafer's also a guy that's really been pushing and somebody that's consistent that we know can play that tackle position for us, too. So, it's really going to be about the guys who can, you know, get five acting as one, who can communicate, who can play through the nerves and go out and execute at a high level, knowing that we're counting on them."
You can watch the full press conference with Drinkwitz in the video player below.
Green and Giudice also both emphasized the amount of confidence they have in Lange and Hafer to get the job done, on Thursday night.
Although Green will not be on the field for Week 1, he wil still - undoubtedly - be a leader on that sideline. He said this first game is all about setting the standard for what's to come the rest of the 2026 campaign.
"We have a standard in our team on our team and it doesn't matter who we play, it should show up every single game. So, you know, stop the run, run the ball, cover kicks. That's the expectation," he said.
You can watch the full press conference with Green in the video player below.
Of course, the offensive line plays a crucial role in what the Tiger offense hopes to accomplish in the upcoming season. Giudice has taken on a big-time leadership role with that front five, as he moved over to center this offseason, following the graduation of longtime Tiger Connor Tollison.
The fifth-year player was asked about the biggest area of growth that he's seen from his unit through fall camp and, hands down, it's been communication.
"You know, obviously techniques and things like that is something that you're going to always fine tune, but the communication is the biggest piece," Giudice said. "I mean, we go over film and there's plays where four guys are doing the right thing, but if one guys out of line, the whole play is busted. So, if we have all five guys doing the same thing, on the same page, that's really the biggest thing. We need to take the next step as offensive line and we're really working towards that."
You can watch the full press conference with Giudice in the video player below.
That unit takes pride in creating holes for what's widely regarded as one of the top rushing attacks in the nation, heading into the 2026 season. Although All-American running back Ahmad Hardy will not be available for the season opener, as he continues to work his way back from a gunshot wound to his leg, there's still plenty of depth in the backfield.
Lots of folks have talked about the talent and skills of a guy like Roberts, this offseason, but Coach Drinkwitz also added Houston Christian transfer Xai'Shaun Edwards and Montana transfer Malae Fonoti to the roster. Those guys will work behind Roberts and, possibly, see some action in Week 1.
"Yeah, I love working with them guys in the running back room, man. They make it real easy for me, you know? And I make it real easy for them. Like I said, I always push them to be the best and strive for their fullest potential. You know, we always working with each other, you know, giving each other pointers and, you know, just pointing at each other and just helping each other out on the field all the time," Roberts said.
Coach Drinkwitz hopes that his elite run-game will compliment a passing attack that he wants to see take the next step forward in 2026. In the offseason, he added speed and versatility to his wide receiving corps, headlined by additions like Cayden Lee, Caleb Goodie and Naeshaun Montgomery. He also returned sophomore Donovan Olugbode, who had a breakout freshman season in 2025.
"There's a lot of different people that can do a lot of different things. Really technical route runners, have proven more and more throughout camp to make the tough catches. Then, I think there's a diversity of speed. I've been impressed with both Caleb Goodie and Naeshaun Montgomery's vertical ability. I think Donovan lost seven pounds, he's more explosive than he's been since I've seen him. I think his yards after catch will be a lot higher than it's been. You know, last year I think he was a little bit of a one trick pony and now he's developed into a full route tree route runner and explosive with the ball in his hands, which is going to be excellent for us to see. Then, obviously, Cayden Lee is a guy with Shaun Terry and DaMarion Fowlkes, who can control the middle of the field and then you create mismatches with the tight end room," Drinkwitz said. "You know, Austin's got a lot of weapons back there and we just got to get consistent in how we're attacking defenses and have confidence in what we're calling."
A whole lot of eyes will be on first-year starting quarterback Austin Simmons when he takes the field for Week 1...even if the game is just against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
On Saturday, Drinkwitz spoke on where he'd like to see Simmons progress as the season goes on.
"We have a phrase with the quarterbacks that we've used for a long time: smart, not conservative. I think for us, with Austin, he's extremely talented, he's got great arm, we need him to be smart with the football, not conservative. We don't need to be out here just willy nilly trying to put balls in tight windows and potentially throwing interceptions. You know, we need to know when it's time to cut it loose and when it's time to take the check down," Drinkwitz said. "He's done an excellent job of that throughout camp. I've been thoroughly impressed with his ability to play within the system, move the ball, push the ball vertically when it's needed and when it's appropriate, and take check downs when he has to, and then obviously just overall command of the team that's going to be as he is continued to develop as a leader here."
Throughout fall camp, the Tiger defense has garnered a whole lot of praise, as that group looks to continue the standard that coordinator Corey Batoon has set in the past two seasons.
In the secondary, specifically, Drinkwitz added a lot of guys that are able to play in multiple spots, making that group more versatile than ever before. However, with so many new faces, there's been an acclimation period. That's something that safety Santana Banner is familiar with, as he was in that same position as a new player to the program last year.
Now, he's taken on a big-time leadership role in 'Death Row Defense,' where he's set on holding guys to the Mizzou standard.
"It's just everybody holding each other to the standard. We have a standard here at Mizzou. Everybody has to play to that standard, whether you're a freshman or you're a senior coming in. So, we just hold everybody to that level," he said.
You can watch the full press conference with Banner in the video player below.
The standard is something players talked about a lot on Saturday...as well as the dedication that was on full display during fall camp.
In fact, Coach Drinkwitz told media members that receiver Naeshaun Montgomery actually slept in the facility through fall camp, which prompted more players to join him.
"Man, that's something new to me. I never really seen guys sleep in the locker room and once Naeshaun started sleeping in the locker room, a lot of guys, you know, brought in and tagged along. It was a lot more guys just than Naeshaun just sleeping in the locker room," Roberts said.
"I wasn't as consistent as he was. I mean, I probably had a night [sleeping in the facility]. He was here every night, like every day of the week," linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez said. "We would walk in 6 a.m. and, I mean, I got some videos, like, we're like, he's laying in his air mattress, and I just jump on it, wake him up. He takes his...he had these eye covers on and he's looking around."
You can watch the full press conference with Rodriguez in the video player below.
Roberts said throughout camp guys would bring mattresses and covers into the facility to make things a bit more comfortable. While the players had a good laugh about it on Saturday, they also emphasized the dedication something like that shows.
"It just shows like, once again, like I said, no distractions. You know, this is this is our job. So, for them to say, okay, I'm gonna spend time here so I can get up early to continue to do my routine, whether that's going to treatment early, getting a cold tub, hot tub, red light, which is what he does," Banner said. "That says a lot about [Naeshaun Montgomery]."
That same kind of dedication is become present on special teams, as coordinator John Papuchis has changed the culture of that unit in just his first few months at the helm.
Kicker Blake Craig said he's focused on finding consistency each and every day, even through the smallest things like making his bed. Of course, he's set to return to the field against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, after tearing his ACL in last year's season opener. He said there will definitely be a special feeling when he goes out there.
"I mean, there's always a level of, like, I like to call that feeling you get. I like to turn it into excitement, so that way you're not sitting there thinking about everything and you're shaking and nervous. It's just like, no, that's just your body's response to being excited. And pressure is a privilege. So like going out there, that's my mindset is like, it's a privilege to be out there and then, you know, just staying focused and focusing on my process is how I stay locked in, put the ball through the uprights," he said.
You can watch the full press conference with Craig in the video player below.
Mizzou will kickoff against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 7 p.m. on Thursday night.
