Mizzou offensive line begins work under new leadership
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Mizzou offensive line headed into fall camp with some work to do, after head coach Eli Drinkwitz brought on Brandon Jones as the new o-line coach in April, after spring camp.
Coach Drink made the hire after former line coach Marcus Johnson left his position to join the staff at Purdue. Jones came to Columbia with 15 years of coaching experience, as well as some significant playing experience as a standout center at Texas Tech in the mid-2000s.
The first-year position coach will have some work ahead of him, as MU is still searching for its starting five. The offensive line had a tough year in 2022, allowing the most tackles for loss in all of the Power Five and committing 38 penalties through the season.
“Our overall mentality, you know, just needs to change and they understand that. They understand where I’m coming from and we talk about that stuff," Jones said.
Coach Drinkwitz said he feels like this is the most depth he's ever had on an offensive line in Columbia. He said there are multiple guys that could end up in that starting five.
The highlight of the returners on the offensive line is Javon Foster. Foster was named to the Outland Trophy watch list on Tuesday, which is given to the best interior lineman in the nation. He was a 13-game starter in 2022 at left tackle and has 37 career appearances for the Tigers.
Mizzou has a lot of goals under first year offensive coordinator Kirby Moore, which includes more touchdowns, more explosiveness and also growth in the run game. All of those goals will hinge on the offensive line being able to protect MU's talent.
