Mizzou football: 5 key players moving forward in October

Kelly Bryant

Of course, it’s the quarterback.

The Clemson transfer is going to throw more touchdowns than he has in any season before this year.

Kelly Bryant is on pace to throw for more than 30 scores. The most he has ever thrown in a season is 13. He’ll need to eliminate some of the mistakes, however.

Bryant already has three interceptions and a fumble in the first four games of the year. He’ll want to throw the ball away at times and not force so many throws. That cost the Tigers in their lone loss of the season, and even hurt them when Bryant took a sack late in that game that forced Mizzou into a third-and-long situation.

If Bryant can lean more on quick and middle throws, what he has been most efficient at, the offense will benefit. I understand he wants to take his game to the next level, and hitting those downfield targets will help him succeed, but some of those targets can be more open if Bryant picks up some momentum underneath.

He has weapons near him in Larry Rountree III, Tyler Badie and Albert O. Johnathon Johnson’s receptions are higher, but his yards per catch are lower. This is where Bryant is looking at on most of his throws, and the Tigers can get creative using Johnson.

It was good to see Bryant use his legs against the Gamecocks. After a rough first quarter, he began to hurt the South Carolina defense as the Tigers started moving the football. Bryant can and has led the offense.

He will be key to how the next four games go, whether the Mizzou football team is 4-0, or if the Tigers have another slip-up somewhere in October.