Missouri Tigers Spring Football: Quarterback Preview

The Missouri Tigers started their preparations for the 2015 season when they opened up spring football practice on Tuesday. Each day I’ll preview a position for the Tigers. Today we’ll start with quarterback.

According to the latest depth chart, Maty Mauk (not surprsingly) is the No. 1 quarterback, followed by Eddie Printz, Corbin Berkstresser, and Marvin Zanders.

This spring will be especially big for Mauk, as the rather inconsistent redshirt junior-to-be will be working with a completely new set of receivers. It’ll be important for him to help these guys along and develop some chemistry before September 5th when the season kicks off against Southeastern Missouri State.

Mauk had his moments when he looked Johnny Manziel-esque with his scrambling and ability to improvise and extend plays, but there were more than a few times when that got him into some serious trouble.

Nov 1, 2014; Columbia, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Maty Mauk (7) is the sure starter as we approach spring football. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

He went from gunslinger-darkhorse Heisman candidate in the non-conference part of the season to very erratic at the start of SEC play to playmaker when it counted the most over the last six games.

Overall Mauk was 221-414 (53.4%) for 2648 yards with a 25-13 touchdown to interception ratio in his first full season as the starter. He was 66-113 (51.1%) for 1071 yards and an 11-2 ratio in a reserve role in 2013.

There was no question that Mauk was asked to do a lot more in 2014, and he showed flashes that he’s a gamer and made plays when the Tigers desperately needed one. He’s going to shoulder even more of the load as a third consecutive trip to Atlanta for the SEC Championship is contingent on Maty Mauk evolving as a quarterback.

Printz and Berkstresser are the No. 2 and 3 quarterbacks, respectively, and probably won’t be receiving too many first team reps. Missouri Tigers head coach Gary Pinkel proved last year in the Georgia game where Mauk threw four interceptions that he’s not going away from him, no matter how poorly he plays.

Sep 6, 2014; Toledo, OH, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Eddie Printz (9) makes a pass as he is pressured during the fourth quarter against the Toledo Rockets at Glass Bowl. Tigers beat the Rockets 49-24. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Printz is going to be a redshirt sophomore and he was Mauk’s backup the whole year. He has only attempted one pass attempt his entire career, which fell incomplete against Toledo. Other than being the second-most trusted quarterback on the roster, he remains a bit of a mystery at this point.

This is Berkstresser’s final year on Missouri’s roster, and he actually has some in-game experience. The senior was Mizzou’s starter in a couple of games due to injury in their forgettable 2012 season. He was 88-177 (47.7%) for 1059 yards with five touchdowns but seven interceptions. He is going to be a locker room and sideline presence.

Apr 19, 2014; Columbia, MO, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Corbin Berkstresser (13) passes the ball over as Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Lucas Vincent (96) closes in during the Black & Gold Game at Faurot Field. Mandatory Credit: Dak Dillon-USA TODAY Sports

The most intriguing backup is going to be Marvin Zanders. Zanders redshirted this past year after enrolling early for the Spring 2014 semester. What separates him from Printz and Berksresser is that he is an electrifying athlete and one of the fastest on the whole team. If Pinkel wants to give the offense a quick change of pace, he’d be wise to put Zanders on the field for a couple of plays.

Out of all the position battles during spring football that will be taking place in Missouri Tigers spring football, this is the least interesting. The top of the depth chart and Mauk will be the starter barring injury, and the real competition is between No. 2 and 3 with Printz and Berkstresser. Zanders is the ultimate wildcard at the moment and Pinkel and the offense staff will have to find a way to be creative with him.

More from Truman's Tales

Home/Football