Mizzou football not concerned with national rankings, focused on winning the week
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
For the first time in the Eli Drinkwitz era, the Mizzou football team found its name in the AP Top-25. However, the No. 23 Tigers said they are not buying into that ranking or all the outside noise. Instead, the focus will remain on going 1-0.
You can watch extended highlights of Tuesday's practice in the video player below.
Drinkwitz said that getting ranked has never been the goal for his football team.
"Our goal is to play for a championship and this week is to be 1-0," he said. "So, all that really is just noise to us. You know, we don't get caught up in it either way."
You can watch the full press conference with Drinkwitz in the video player below.
Mizzou running back Cody Schrader echoed the same message. He said that the locker room isn't getting caught up in the success the team is having, so far, in 2023.
"I think that's what's genuine about this locker this year is that we just want to keep improving, keep getting better and that's our focus."
You can watch the full press conference with Schrader, as well as offensive lineman Xavier Delgado in the video players below.
MU will roll into Nashville not just ranked, but also undefeated. The Tigers are 4-0 to start the season, which marks the program's best start since 2013. But, the SEC is a different beast. Coach Drinkwitz said the Commodores will present a challenge for his defense.
He noted that Vanderbilt's wide receiver room is as good as anybody in the SEC's. Senior receiver Will Sheppard is the highlight of that group. One season ago, Mizzou edged out Vandy, 17-14, at Faurot Field. In that game, the Tigers were able to limit Sheppard to three catches for 28 yards. That will be the goal again, however, he ranks eighth in the Southeastern Conference for receiving yards in 2023.
The Commodores' quarterback, AJ Swann, is ranked second in the conference for passing yards with 1,290 on the season, so far.
"He has very good accuracy, sits in the pocket, can deliver the football all over the field. I know he's been a little bit beat up, but they have capable back ups," Drinkwitz said.
Drinkwitz and company are also battling a few injuries headed into Saturday's game. Quarterback Brady Cook, star wide receiver Luther Burden, defensive back Dreyden Norwood, tight end Brett Norfleet and defensive lineman Darius Robinson will all be listed as questionable heading into the game. Wide receiver Mekhi Miller will not play against Vanderbilt.
Robinson went down with a calf strain in Saturday's win against Memphis in the St. Louis. It's an injury he's been battling for a few weeks, Drinkwitz said. After the game, Coach Eli said he and the coaching staff would need to make a decision on how to handle it, as far as resting him for a week or not.
The Tigers have already shown toughness in the injury department, though. Cook battled through a hyperextended knee in that win against Memphis.
"Brady is as tough a quarterback as I've been around and I've been around some really good quarterbacks," Drinkwitz said. "Honestly, there was no way in my mind, on Monday or Tuesday, that he was playing in that game. I mean, he could barely walk, but in his mind there was zero chance that he wasn't playing...He lived here pretty much 16 hours a day, takes online classes. He was doing online work in the training room making sure he could do everything he could to play and I just think our team saw that."
Mizzou and Vanderbilt will kickoff at 3 p.m. in Nashville on Saturday, Sept. 30.
