Missouri Tigers Make Sports Illustrated’s Top 25
By Derek Franks
The Missouri Tigers may not be one of the nation’s top 25 football teams in the country according to the coaches. But the Reigning SEC East division champions have proven to one of sports media’s most credible sources that the efforts of the successful 2013 campaign were good enough to get recognition for the 2014 season.
New starting quarterback Maty Mauk will be a vital component in leading Mizzou to another successful season in 2014. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Sports Illustrated released its official Top-25 on Wednesday and Mizzou was on it.
The pre-season coaches poll– the most anticipated off season ranking– left the Tigers out of their top 25 in the first days of the August month (Mizzou technically tallied in at No. 26), but S.I. didn’t deprive Mizzou from a much-deserved ranking on their list, placing the Tigers at No. 22.
After all, Missouri finished the 2013 season ranked 8th in the country, with a 12-2 overall record, a Cotton Bowl victory, and ended up being one game short of a National Championship appearance. That has to count for something.
It’s no secret, Mizzou took hits to its roster, specifically on defense, losing two Ace pass rushers in Kony Ealy and Michael Sam, the latter arguably was the team’s MVP, and corner E.J. Gains.
Offensively, the team fared just as bad in the wide receiving game, losing star Dorial Green-Beckham to dismissal and L’Damian Washington and Marcus Lucas to graduation. The squad also will have a new starting quarterback after the departure of James Franklin, who graduated and was drafted by the NFL’s Detroit Lions in May.
But the Tigers had big time replacements in place who are ready to take the burden of following up the previous season with another successful year in what will be the program’s fourth in the Southeastern Conference.
A Missouri optimist will tell you that Mauk will be even better in 2014 than Franklin was in 2013
Quarterback Maty Mauk is expected to be an improvement at the quarterback position. He earned ample playing time in relief of the injured Franklin in 2013, and impressed everyone while doing so. He was recently recognized as the conference’s best passer as well.
The running game may be the best in the SEC and the offensive line will excel in 2014. The young wide receivers are talented, albeit inexperienced.
Defensively, the program has some questions, but worked to fill its holes nicely with talented new players and defensive line star Markus Golden is a preseason All-SEC player.
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Ergo, this team will be good.
Sports Illustrated noted that head coach Gary Pinkel credited health, conditioning and the availability of a deep roster to its 2013 success. But it also explains that Mizzou’s lower ranking was due to losing the aforementioned players such as Franklin and running back Henry Josey.
A Missouri optimist will tell you that Mauk will be even better in 2014 than Franklin was in 2013 and that running back Marcus Murphy will be just as good as Josey was.
Regardless, the team has high expectations in 2014. And I think reaching for a top-25 ranking is not outlandish at all. To me, the team is capable of landing in the top 20.
Alabama (No. 2), Auburn (No. 7), South Carolina (No. 11), Goergia (No. 12), LSU (No. 14), Ole Miss (No. 18) and Texas A&M (No. 20) also made the magazine’s preseson top-25.