PFF names Missouri one of five underrated teams in 2021

PFF’s Anthony Treash named Missouri as one of five teams that are being slept on heading into 2021.

Year one of the Eli Drinkwitz-era ended with the Tigers sitting at 5-5, but the future is bright for the Tigers under the former Appalachian State head coach.

It all starts at quarterback and Treash noted the stability that quarterback Connor Bazelak brought to the position as a reason for optimism. The third-year quarterback earned a 77.4 passing grade for the year, ninth among returning Power Five quarterbacks.

Treash highlighted the receiving corps and coverage units as the two key factors that will decide if Missouri truly can break through in 2021. The Tigers added playmakers to both units in the offseason through the transfer portal.

Offensively, running back Tyler Badie was the only proven returning weapon for the Tigers. At wide receiver, the Tigers don’t have a single player that had a single season that graded better than 70.0, per PFF’s scale.

In comes former 2020 top-100 recruit Mookie Cooper, who transferred in from Ohio State. Cooper originally hails from Pattonville in Missouri. Also in the room are two freshmen former four-stars Dominic Lovett and JJ Hester. Hester redshirted last season while Lovett enrolled in the spring.

Things look bright beyond 2021 as well. On the recruiting trail, the Tigers have a top-25 class nationally

At defensive back, the Tigers brought in a new secondary coach in Aaron Fletcher from Tulsa. The change was much-needed as Missouri ranked fourth-to-last in the SEC in EPA allowed per pass play in 2020 and their two highest-graded defensive backs from the unit are no longer in the program.

The addition of Fletcher also came with the incoming transfer of former Tulsa cornerback Akayleb Evans, who earned a 73.1 PFF grade and allowed 26 or fewer yards in all but one of his starts last season. The Tigers also brought in 6-3 cornerback Allie Green from Tulsa as well. Between Green, Evans and second-year cornerback Ennis Rakestraw, who was one of Drinkwitz’s first major recruiting wins, the Tiger secondary could be a lot better this year.

The future looks bright beyond the 2021 season too. Missouri currently has a top 25 recruiting class in the 2022 cycle, headlined by Collin’s Hill quarterback Sam Horn and Omaha Central offensive lineman Deshawn Wood.