Mizzou football players feel safe returning to facilities

The Mizzou football team will be allowed to return to its facilities on Monday, June 8, after months away due to COVID-19.

MU will test all of its student-athletes when they return to campus. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz said there are plans in place to keep the players safe. Only 20 football players will be able to train at the same time. They will have to stay at least six feet apart at all times as well.

"These guys love football," Drinkwitz said on a Zoom call Thursday. "They haven't been around their teammates, their brothers, their locker room, their coaches in nearly 12 weeks. There is absolutely an enthusiasm and an energy to get back and working toward that goal of Sept. 5 playing UCA."

We spoke with Mizzou defensive standouts Chris Turner and Nick Bolton on Zoom as well. Both of them said they can't wait to get back to work.

“Honestly I feel safe," Turner said. "I have complete confidence in our training staff and our medical staff that they’re going to have everything prepared and good for us to come back on Monday. Even today we started screenings and stuff and just to make sure we know the process of safely coming in and out of the building and doing everything we can to keep everybody safe."

"I personally feel safe to come back," Bolton said. "I feel like it’s the safest place for me. I’ll be able to workout still and be ready for the fall, but also in a safe environment where we’re not necessarily worried about getting sick. We got daily things you know check-ups and temperature checks and stuff like that.

You can watch our full interviews with Bolton and Turner in the video player below.

The men's and women's basketball teams will also be able to return to their facilities on Monday. Other teams will follow as the summer continues.