Eli Drinkwitz named AP SEC Coach of the Year; multiple players get first-team honors
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Associated Press tabbed Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz as the SEC Coach of the Year, on Monday, following his best season at the helm of Tiger football.
Drinkwitz led MU to the program's first 10-win season since 2014. Mizzou is the No. 9-ranked team in the land and will meet Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl, which is the program's first Cotton Bowl appearance since the 2013 season.
The honor also means a $25,000 bonus for Drinkwitz, per his contract incentives.
It was a big turnaround for the fourth-year head coach, after a 6-7 year in 2022. In fact, the 2023 season is the first above .500 year that Coach Eli has had at the helm of Tiger football. He will now look to win his first bowl game at the helm of Mizzou, as well. MU has been in a bowl game each of his three years in Columbia, but has not come out on top, yet.
Many of Drinkwitz's players also earned some AP honors, on Monday. The Tigers' five first-team selections tied for the league high. You can find a full list of the first and second team selections below.
FIRST-TEAM ALL-SEC
- Wide receiver Luther Burden
- Offensive lineman Javon Foster
- Running back Cody Schrader
- Defensive lineman Darius Robinson
- Cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine
SECOND-TEAM ALL-SEC
- Offensive lineman Cam'Ron Johnson
- Kicker Harrison Mevis
Up next - Mizzou will continue preparation for the Cotton Bowl. The No. 9 Tigers will kick off against No. 7 Buckeyes on Friday, Dec. 29 at 7 p.m.
