Mizzou football: Questions about punter remain

Specialists appear to be set at kicker and long snapper, but what about punter?

So far, it looks as if senior placekicker Tucker McCann will have two positions this year.

McCann will be the Tigers’ kicker as well as the punter, something he hasn’t done for Mizzou football.

He is the only player listed on the depth chart but has been battling with other kickers on the roster, including Sean Koetting, Parker Willis, Aaron Rodriguez and Logan Brock. All are freshmen besides Koetting, who is 1-for-1 on field-goal attempts in his career after playing in last season’s opener.

While the punting position is one of the biggest questions marks heading into the year, McCann has made progress this summer.

The Columbia Daily Tribune added McCann missed a chip-shot field goal, but it’s the punting that remains more of a question to most.

"“In terms of Missouri’s actual punts, McCann took two punts and netted 99 yards, with a 54-yard punt being his longest. … So far, McCann looks to have the punting job, as well as the placekicker position."

Corey Fatony was a better-than-average punter for the Tigers over the past four years. That is a tough replacement, but McCann is up for the challenge.

As for field goals, McCann is quite improved. He nailed 24 of 33 field goals last year and recently was named to the SEC coaches preseason third team. Quite better than his freshman season, where he was 6 of 12 on attempts.

Long snapper might have more of a competition, but Jake Hoffman, a redshirt freshman, is listed on the two-deep depth chart with no apparent backup.

Junior Drew Wise was the primary snapper last season but appears to have fallen behind. Fellow junior James Workman is the Tigers’ other long snapper on the roster.

Richaud Floyd is healthy again and will be the return man for the Tigers. Floyd, who is in the middle of a position change from offense to defense this summer, was a preseason All-American by CBS Sports as a returner last season. But he was hurt before the season began and missed the start of the season.

Sophomore Tyler Badie and senior Johnathon Johnson also have been solid in the return game for the Tigers in the past.