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Missouri

Marty Smith describes Missouri's surprising strong season

On3 imageby:Andrew Graham•12/19/23•

AndrewEdGraham

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Denny Medley | USA TODAY Sports

Missouri surprised many this season with a 10-2 mark and a trip to the Cotton Bowl to face Ohio State. That includes ESPN and SEC Network commentator and analyst Marty Smith.

Smith admitted he was wrong about the Tigers this years with On3’s Andy Staples on Tuesday. And he explained some of what makes the outfit that Eli Drinkwitz has assembled in Colombia so impressive.

“I think Mizzou is nasty. They’re really good on the defensive side. Coach Drink, and I’m going to be honest with you, this is straight up admission: When I looked at that schedule to start the season, I didn’t think — not only did I not forecast this, I didn’t forecast close to this,” Smith said.

Missouri rolled to double digit wins in the SEC East with a combination of physical, unrelenting defense and a star-studded offense that can churn yards on the ground and take chunks through the air.

Smith lauded the talent on display.

“And Brady Cook, a really, really good player and a wonderful young man. Luther Burden, one of the best in the country at his position. Offensive line has played so well. The running back. It’s remarkable,” Smith said.

Smith also noted that the Tigers being good is good for the media business, too. A happy Drinkwitz is not foreign to letting a line or two fly.

“And he’s so funny. Them being good is good for us. Because it puts him on a big stage to be so funny,” Smith said.

Drinkwitz took a victory lap on the recruiting trail recently

Missouri has had Arkansas’ number in recent years on the football field, and on Tuesday, the Tigers got another one over on the Razorbacks on the recruiting trail.

Four-star Pine Bluff (Ark.) wide receiver Courtney Crutchfield chose Drinkwitz and Co. over Arkansas, LSU and others. It was a major addition late in the recruiting cycle for the Tigers. And Drinkwitz wasted no time holding it over Arkansas’ head.

On X (formerly known as Twitter), Drinkwitz posted a GIF of him celebrating while Mizzou was up 41-0 on the Razorbacks during their meeting on the field last month.

Crutchfield was a longtime Arkansas commit before backing off that pledge in early November. The Tigers, who were one of the first schools to offer him as a recruit, pounced on the opportunity. They hosted him for a game and then brought him back last weekend for an official visit, which sealed the deal.