Missouri Football vs. Murray State: Scouting report, score prediction

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Playing your opening game of the season against Murray State is problematic.

Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz talked about it on Sunday as he previewed the Tigers' season opener, Thursday night in Columbia against the FCS Racers.

There is simply not enough material on this newly formed Murray State team.

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The Racers had a 2-9 record last season. They have a new coaching staff and, according to game notes, 65 new players on the roster, including 46 transfers.

“Finding out what your opponents look like,” Drinkwitz said, “is almost impossible.”

Here you can find out everything you need to know about the revamped and newly sponsored Faurot Field on Thursday:

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Who will be Murray State’s starting quarterback in the Missouri game?

Jayden Johannsen, who transfers from Division II South Dakota Mines, will face the Tigers.

Speaking of scouting challenges…

“Their starting quarterback played at Dakota School of Mines, he was a finalist for the Harlan Hill Award,” Drinkwitz said. “And we're looking at the Hudl video to find out what he did on the internet. It's a unique challenge.”

As Drinkwitz said, Johannsen was a candidate for 2022 D-II Player of the Year after averaging 290.8 passing yards per game while throwing 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Last season, the quarterback averaged 231.2 yards through the air and threw 28 touchdown passes with 11 interceptions. Johannsen has a career total of 24 rushing scores in 36 appearances.

The quarterback has some skills to cover two offenses at once, but with more than 30 pass attempts per game last season with South Dakota Mines, the Tigers have to expect the Racers' starter to drop back to pass more often. That's a good chance for these edge rushers to get some hits early in the season.

New coaches on the sidelines

Since there isn't much else to do, Mizzou can just go back and watch what the new Murray State coach and coordinators like to do, right?

Not quite.

Jody Wright was hired for his first head coaching job after two seasons as South Carolina's tight ends coach. Murray State's new defensive coordinator is former Florida A&M playmaker Ryan Smith. One of the Racers' co-offensive coordinators, Jimmy Ogle, hasn't called plays since 2021, when he was OC at Jacksonville State.

Murray State's key players

Willie Gaines transferred from Colorado after seeing little playing time last season, but he was a frequent target at his previous stop, Jackson State, where he caught 27 passes for 446 yards and five touchdowns.

There could also be familiarity at the cornerback position, as East St. Louis High graduate KaVan Reid may face another former Flyer, star wide receiver Luther Burden III. Reid was on the watch list for the Reese's Senior Bowl along with the Racers' defensive tackle.

The Racers have two players on the roster who were selected to the All-Missouri Valley Conference in the preseason: offensive lineman Ahston Flinn of Jackson, Missouri, who is a high school teammate of MU center Connor Tollison, and safety Kanyon Walker, the Racers' top returning tackler.

Three-star freshman running back Jordan Washington is expected to start for the Racers.

What will Batoon's defense look like?

Corey Batoon will call plays for the first time as the Tigers' defensive coordinator.

It should be a good opportunity to incorporate some transfers and internal development pieces. Players like redshirt freshman Nicholas DeLoach, who is listed after Toriano Pride Jr. with an “or” between the names for starting lineups, should get a chance to fill in for some receivers in a live game.

The same goes for young defensive tackles Marquis Gracial, Jalen Marshall and Sam Williams, who were all named to the team's first unofficial roster. The first half should make it clearer how the Tigers plan to rotate this unit.

And, what is not entirely uninteresting: What will the specialized roles for defensive end Johnny Walker Jr. and Daylan Carnell look like this season?

Walker was projected to play the role of “wild card” defensive end, a boundary end who drops back into coverage in certain situations. Carnell has played as a hybrid linebacker/safety the past two seasons. Will that role look different under Batoon? Time will tell.

Result prediction: Missouri 56, Murray State 10

Yes, it's new. Yes, it's certainly been a tough preparation. But let's not lose sight of the forest… it's Murray State, a team that's clearly rebuilding.

Mizzou should be able to give its key players a rest after halftime. Some of MU's reserves should, if all goes well, get a taste of Division I college football in the second half, and then Murray State might be able to take home some consolation points.

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