Andy Staples: Watch out for Missouri running back room in 2024

Missouri was the surprise of the SEC last year and dazzled the country with an electric offense featuring a robust run game and explosive passing attack.

Heading into 2024, the star quarterback and wide receiver are in place, but the star running back is gone, with the Tigers having filled the void with a pair of transfer portal guys who On3’s Andy Staples is very high on.

“Do not count out a pair of transfers at Missouri,” he said of their group on Monday’s On3 YouTube livestream. “Understandably, a lot of the offseason attention has gone to TreVeon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins at Ohio State. But do not discount the possibility of this Missouri running back room putting up big numbers.”

Of course, Missouri loses last year’s starter, Cody Schrader, himself a former gem found in the portal by the Tiger staff.

“So they lose Cody Schrader. Remember, Cody Schrader was the SEC’s leading rusher last year. He’s one of the great finds in transfer portal history. He’s a guy who wanted to play for Missouri, walking on after playing at Div. II Truman State, earning a scholarship very quickly and becoming the most productive back in the SEC in his second year in Missouri.”

Per Staples, Mizzou went back to the well and found two more high-upside backs for the 2024 season.

“Now, Missouri gets a couple guys out of the portal who are a little more accomplished coming in and it’s kind of a thunder and lightning situation,” he said, naming those new RBs.

“So your thunder in this case is Marcus Carroll, who was a workhorse back last year at Georgia State. Your lightning is Nate Noel, who was at Appalachian State last year. Now, he missed a few games because of injury, but both these guys were very productive.

“Caroll ran for 1,350 yards on 274 carries. Noel, 834 yards on 173 carries. I don’t know that Caroll’s going to have to carry as much this year, so you’re going to get a fresher version of him probably when he gets the ball.”

With the new additions in the running back room, Andy Staples believes Missouri once again has the personnel to play exactly the way Eli Drinkwitz wants to on offense.

“I just really like the way this Missouri offense is put together. Eli Drinkwitz, he’s a Gus Malzahn disciple, that offense is at its best when they are capable of running between the tackles and then using that to set up the throw game.”

With playmakers on the outside, and a strong one-two punch in the backfield, Staples says this is an offense that’s going to complement itself.

“I think you’re going to be pretty impressed watching Missouri run the ball this year. These two, they may not be household names, but they were extremely productive at the group of five level and I think they’re going to be highly productive at Missouri in this offense. It’s going to make life easier for Brady Cook and for Luther Burden, who are probably the stars of that offense.”