Missouri Football: 5 bold predictions for the Tigers in 2017
![COLUMBIA, MO - NOVEMBER 12: Barry Odom head coach of the Missouri Tigers waits to lead his team onto the field for a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores in the second quarter at Memorial Stadium on November 12, 2016 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) COLUMBIA, MO - NOVEMBER 12: Barry Odom head coach of the Missouri Tigers waits to lead his team onto the field for a game against the Vanderbilt Commodores in the second quarter at Memorial Stadium on November 12, 2016 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/b96f9e26484b5d2ffa96ec870a181f33bca99d8b8080e4df25fce688cb332d4f.jpg)
Last year, running back Damarea Crockett exceeded 1,000 yards rushing. Barring his suspension for the last game of the season against Arkansas, he would have exceeded 1,200 yards on the ground.
This year, Crockett returns with a greater vision for staying out of trouble. He will again be the featured running back for Missouri, with Ish Witter and (probably) Nate Strong rounding out the Tigers’ starting rotation at running back.
Crockett exceeding 1,000 yards on the ground again is a given. It will happen; in fact, I think Crockett will gain around 1,500 yards on the ground, given the caliber of the Tigers’ non-conference opponents.
But wait, there’s more: Ish Witter will surpass his production from 2016, and land around 900 yards in 2017. Last year, Witter finished with a career-high 750 yards on the ground, some of which was also due to Crockett’s absence against Arkansas.