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Missouri Football: Nobody noticed that running back Nate Strong left

By Eric Quackenbush

COLUMBIA, MO - SEPTEMBER 9: Barry Odom head coach of the Missouri Tigers waits with his team as the prepare to take to the field prior to a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks quarter at Memorial Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
COLUMBIA, MO - SEPTEMBER 9: Barry Odom head coach of the Missouri Tigers waits with his team as the prepare to take to the field prior to a game against the South Carolina Gamecocks quarter at Memorial Stadium on September 9, 2017 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /
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Former Missouri running back, Nate Strong, was missing from the lineup in the team’s first two games, and now it all makes sense.

It’s a good – great – thing that Missouri has the best running back in the SEC, in Damarea Crockett, or else Strong’s absence might have been noticed. Realistically, if Crockett didn’t play for Mizzou, there’s a chance Strong would still be in Columbia.

I didn’t even know Strong was gone, until his departure from the team, two weeks ago, was announced on Tuesday. That speaks to the strength of Missouri’s running game with Crockett on-board.

A brief aside, for anyone who noticed that Crockett missed the second half of Saturday’s loss to South Carolina, he’s going to be fine. In fact, he’s been cleared to play against Purdue.

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Gabe DeArmond of PowerMizzou.com released the story on Tuesday morning. Head coach Barry Odom was surprised by Strong’s decision to leave the program.

While Strong’s departure isn’t completely clear, he returned to the team for the spring game, from a suspension, and had also suffered a knee injury during training camp.

Against Missouri State, Strong was listed as the team’s No. 4 running back, which may not have set well with the junior back.

As the Tigers continue their journey into what has really been a head-scratching (keeping it “PG”) and extremely frustrating start to the season, Missouri is not without talent and depth at the position.

Next: Predicting the rest of Missouri's season

Fortunately, Missouri has the full service of Crockett, followed by Ish Witter and human bowling ball Larry Rountree, followed by more depth, which may also get a chance to play, now.

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