Brady Cook lives out dream of being the starter for the home opener

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Throughout the off season, there were a lot of questions on who would be the starting quarterback Thursday against Louisiana tech, but it didn't take too long for Eli Drinkwitz to name the St. Louis native Brady Cook as his guy for week one. 

"I can clearly remember being in the stands as a young kid watching games and it kind of seems surreal to think that I could do that one day," Cook said.

After the 2021 season, Mizzou's quarterback Connor Bazelak transferred to Indiana, that meant just Cook and Tyler Macon returning for the starting job so the Tigers spent the offseason looking for new talent.

"He just said, 'Coach it means nothing more to me then to be the starting quarterback at the University of Missouri so I'm here, I'm gonna fight for it and as long as you're telling me it's an open competition regardless of what happens I'm gonna be here'," Drinkwitz said.

Many players have seen Cook grow in the offseason.

"I've kind of seen him take that role of, ok this reality this is my turn now," said wide receiver Barrett Banister.

Although he will be the starter Thursday, the next challenge is keeping the role.

"It's my job to get him to start it and I've done that and he's earned it, now it's up to him to finish," Drinkwitz said.

"Its a job that you have to continuously work for and compete for every day and every practice," Cook said.

Kickoff from Faurot will be Thursday at 7 p.m.