It’s becoming all too common place.
Tuesday, two more players left the Missouri Tigers football program for undisclosed reasons. Gone is junior cornerback Earnest Payton, as well as redshirt freshman defensive tackle DeQuinton Osborne both of whom have departed the team.
Payton, a 6’2, 210-pound corner from College Station, Texas looked to be in the mix to get some solid playing time after missing almost the entire 2013 season because a torn ACL he sustained in between the Murray State and Toledo games. His Missouri career included 4 tackles as well as one tackle for a loss.
Osborne, a 6’, 310-pound defensive tackle from Grand Prairie, Texas was a bit lower on the depth chart than his fellow Texan. He was signed as a late recruit and redshirted his first season with the team.
Between star wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham who was dismissed from the team on April 11th and Quarterback Trent Hosick who decided to transfer to BYU, this now makes four scholarship players who have left the program in the last 3 months.
Missouri Tigers head coach Gary Pinkel will have to readjust his roster after two defensive players left the team Tuesday. Defense was already a big question mark before they left. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Payton’s departure could lead the way for some of the younger Missouri secondary to step up with players like Logan Cheadle, Finis Stribling and Anthony Sherrills among various others looking to fill the void. At defensive tackle, there is a similar situation, with there being significant depth, even with the loss of Osborne.
There has been speculation regarding both players that the reason they left was because they didn’t think they were significant pieces in the team’s future.
Payton had been reportedly passed on the depth chart by some of the talented secondary class of 2012 recruits, while Osborne was seen more as a work in progress.
Given the numbers and talent of the guys around them, both probably saw the writing on the wall and decided to move on from the program.
