Mizzou football will be without at least a dozen players for season opener due to COVID-19

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz said there are 12 players currently out due to COVID-19 concerns, and they will not be able to play in the season opener against Alabama on Sept. 26.

Drinkwitz said those 12 players have either tested positive for the virus or are in quarantine due to a close contact. He did not specify.

"I just take the results that come to me," Drinkwitz said on a Zoom news conference Wednesday. "Right now - we’ve got 12 guys missing, and I think we have an 111 man roster, so I don’t know. Right now, we’re fine. Not worried about it, but again - get with me tomorrow. We just got tested today. Get with me Friday. We take another test Friday, and we take another test Sunday. I can’t forecast the future. Crud, if I had done that, I would’ve reinvested in the stock market, but I didn’t."

Drinkwitz also said wide receiver Maurice Massey and defensive lineman Chris Daniels have opted out of the season due to COVID-19 concerns. Drinkwitz added former Jefferson City standout Daniel Ellinger has decided to move on from football to pursue other opportunities.

"It’s a different dynamic because individually you respect them and wish them well, but then you got to step back in and do what’s best for the team moving forward," Drinkwitz said. We wish them well and know that they’re going to be taken care of academically, and now we got to focus on the guys that are going to be here and are going to help us contribute to winning this season. So, there’s two sides."

You can watch our full interview with Coach Drinkwitz in the video player above.