Missouri Tigers Football

Quarterback Drew Pyne has committed to Missouri ahead of the 2024 season, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.

Pyne started his college career at Notre Dame before transferring to Arizona State ahead of the 2023 campaign. Thamel reported in December he was enrolling back at Notre Dame in order to obtain his degree, after which he'd resume his football career elsewhere with potentially three years of remaining eligibility.

The 6'0" signal-caller was the Fighting Irish's primary starter in 2022 and finished with 2,021 passing yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions. He saw the writing on the wall when he moved on to Arizona State in December 2022, with Sam Hartman arriving in Notre Dame a month later.

It looked like Pyne might have a path to the Sun Devils' starting job but thanks to a hamstring injury was the fourth QB listed when they released their first depth chart of the year. He eventually moved into the top spot ahead of ASU's clash with USC and went 21-of-36 for 221 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in a 42-28 loss.

Pyne was also injured again in that defeat and didn't log another snap.

Having already signed Harold Blood Jr. from Southern, Missouri adds to its quarterback depth by getting Pyne out of the portal. Having him for multiple years is another luxury. Whether he actually sees the field for the Tigers is another story.

Brady Cook, their leading passer, is back for one more year, and while they lost Gabarri Johnson, a member of the 2023 recruiting class, they signed 3-star recruit Aidan Glover. Sam Horn, a 4-star recruit from 2022, remains on the roster too.

When it came to the quarterback room, head coach Eliah Drinkwitz clearly wanted to cover all of his bases.

HEIGHT: 6'5"

WEIGHT: 285

HAND: 10⅝"

ARM: 34½"

WINGSPAN: 84½"

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40-YARD DASH: 4.95

3-CONE:

SHUTTLE:

VERTICAL: 35

BROAD: 9'3"

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POSITIVES

— Great size and frame, NFL-ready body. Has room for growth if need be, too.

— Strong and physical at the point of attack to stand up offensive tackles at the line of scrimmage.

— Has long arms to get extension, lock out blockers and shed blocks.

— Has plenty of strength to collapse the pocket with a bull rush when he doesn't false-step out of his stance

— Good arm-over move that he uses as a counter off the bull rush. Strong to pull the tackle's shoulder down, and has solid hip fluidity to clear his lower half and win around the edge.

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NEGATIVES

— Subpar athlete overall. A clunky mover who is a little stiff and robotic, which limits the amount of finesse moves he can win with as a pass-rusher.

— Lacks some acceleration/burst off the line of scrimmage.

— Doesn't have the change-of-direction skills to effectively turn speed to power. Struggles to plant his outside foot and redirect into the offensive tackle.

— Below-average bend. Ankles are a little stiff to turn a tight corner at the top of the rush.

— Needs to develop a better pass-rush plan and arsenal.

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2023 STATISTICS

— 12 G, 43 TOT, 8.5 SK, 14 TFL, 1 FF

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NOTES

— 3-star recruit in the 2019 class, per 247Sports

— Injuries: 2023 (calf strain, missed 1 game), 2021 (Undisclosed, missed 3 games), 2020 (Right ankle, missed 1 game)

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OVERALL

Darius Robinson certainly looks the part of an NFL defensive lineman. He has an impressive build and can even add some size if a team wants him to play inside more often.

Robinson's game is rooted in power. Against the run, he's quick to get his hands up and has the strength to stand up offensive tackles at the line of scrimmage. He has little to no problems setting the edge and can stop pullers in their tracks as the force player in run fits to make the running back bounce outside.

When it comes to getting off blocks, Robinson's strength and long arms allow him to lock out offensive linemen and shed blocks. He's also shown a decent rip move to escape blocks.

As a pass-rusher, the Missouri product can collapse the pocket against tackles with a bull rush when he doesn't false-step out of his stance. Additionally, he has a good arm-over move as a counter off the bull where he engages, has the strength to pull the lineman's shoulder down and enough hip fluidity to clear his lower half to win around the edge.

However, Robinson isn't a high-level athlete, which is currently limiting his pass-rush arsenal. He lacks the change-of-direction skills to effectively turn speed to power, and he isn't quick-twitched to win with finesse moves. He also has below-average bend due to some stiffness in his ankles. He shouldn't be expected to be a significant contributor as a rusher right away.

With that being said, the former Tiger did have more success and showed growth as a pass-rusher at the Senior Bowl, winning more consistently than what he showed during the season.

Schematically, Robinson has some positional flexibility. He can play right away as a defensive end in even or odd fronts, lining up as a 5- or 4i-technique. While he would probably have to add about 10 to 15 pounds, he has the strength and physicality to potentially line up as a 3-technique as well; that'd just be more of a project.

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GRADE: 7.4 (High-Level Backup/Potential Starter — 3rd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 47

POSITION RANK: DL4

PRO COMPARISON: Zach Allen

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.

HEIGHT: 6'2"

WEIGHT: 221

HAND: 8⅞"

ARM: 31⅜"

WINGSPAN: 77¾"

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40-YARD DASH: 4.68

3-CONE: 7.28

SHUTTLE: 4.46

VERTICAL: 36"

BROAD: 10'4"

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POSITIVES

— Has the speed to carry running backs and tight ends down the field on vertical routes along with the movement skills and change of direction to cover shorter routes in man coverage.

— Has the speed to close in coverage or on the quarterback when blitzing.

— Physical and not afraid to throw his body around when coming downhill.

— Has a decent rip move to defeat blocks against the run or when rushing the passer.

— Impressive speed gives him good sideline-to-sideline range as a run defender and allows him to make chase-down tackles.

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NEGATIVES

— Wiry. Needs to add size and strength to take on blocks and hold his ground against offensive linemen in the running game.

— Lacks the strength to get re-routes when he gets his hands on tight ends. Struggles to stay in phase when tight ends get physical at the top of the route.

— Gets caught staring in the backfield in zone coverage. Often ends up covering grass instead of adjusting when threats are nearing his area.

— Struggles with his pad level when tackling. Often either goes too high and allows extra yards after contact or dives at ankles.

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2023 STATISTICS

— 10 G, 55 TOT, 6 TFL, 3 SK, 3 PD, 0 INT, 0 FF

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NOTES

— 4-star recruit in the 2019 class, per 247Sports

— Injuries: 2023 (Sprained ankle, missed 3 games)

— Played three seasons at Florida before transferring to Missouri in 2022

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OVERALL

At a high level, Ty'Ron Hopper is a solid coverage linebacker who could contribute on special teams in the NFL. He has impressive speed and movement skills which show up the most in man coverage against running backs and tight ends. He can also close in a hurry and can be an asset as a blitzer on third downs.

Against the run, Hopper has impressive sideline-to-sideline range against outside runs and is physical when coming downhill, but he lacks the size and strength to hold his ground against offensive linemen. That leads to him having to work around blocks, which will be more difficult against more athletic linemen in the NFL.

Overall, the Missouri product can be a solid rotational linebacker as a "Will" in even fronts for a team that runs a lot of man coverage. His speed and willingness to throw his body around can be an asset on special teams, which he has experience doing at Florida, but he didn't participate on many special teams over the last two seasons after transferring.

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GRADE: 6.1 (High-Level Developmental Prospect — 5th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 151

POSITION RANK: LB10

PRO COMPARISON: Nathan Gerry

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.

HEIGHT: 6'5"

WEIGHT: 309

HAND: 9 3/8"

ARM: 35"

WINGSPAN: 82 3/8"

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40-YARD DASH:

3-CONE:

SHUTTLE:

VERTICAL:

BROAD:

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POSITIVES

— Knows how to weaponize his long arms to maximize his reach, establish first meaningful contact and keep rushers at his fingertips.

— Very good grip strength once latched inside the frame of defenders to gain and sustain control of the block.

— Good athletic ability with the initial and lateral quickness to mirror rushers on an island, cut off the backside on zone runs and lead on the edge as a puller.

— Shows above-average pop and play strength upon initial contact to deliver jolt with the frame and length to corral defenders and seal off alleys on angle-drive blocks.

— Noticeable improvement in his technique from the 2022 to 2023 seasons.

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NEGATIVES

— Choppy, disjointed footwork saps his power as a run-blocker and recovery skills in pass protection.

— Impliable, rigid use of hands leaves him late to refit and reset against counters.

— Has a bad habit of lunging/leaning into contact, being vulnerable to the push-pull and getting overextended.

— Overly reliant on the two-hand strike, which gives his game a boom-or-bust element.

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2023 STATISTICS

— 13 starts at left tackle

— First-team All-SEC (AP & Coaches)

— Third-team All-American (AP)

— Co-captain

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NOTES

— 3-star recruit in the 2018 class, per 247Sports

— 41 career starts at left (39) and right (two) tackle

— Accepted his invite to the Senior Bowl

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OVERALL

Javon Foster is a three-year starter inside Missouri's RPO-heavy, zone-based run scheme with 41 career starts primarily at left tackle, including 13 starts in 2023. Foster has excellent arm length with a lean, high-cut build and good athletic ability.

Foster combines his above-average athletic ability and excellent length to strike, press and widen defenders off their spot on angle-drive blocks. He also has the play strength to concede minimal ground against power when his hands are inside and latched. He is an adept zone run-blocker with the quicks and agility to cut off the backside, plus lead around the edge to take out the force defender on pulls.

While Foster is a solid overall run-blocker with flashes of higher-end ability, he is too robotic and rigid with his footwork and hands with a bad habit of leaning into contact. That saps his ability to sustain and control blocks if he doesn't win the initial leverage battle, leading to getting overextended and slipped too quickly.

In pass protection, Foster gets to his spots and landmarks on time using various sets, showing the range and twitch to mirror rushers on an island with the length to establish first meaningful contact and keep rushers at his fingertips. That's balanced out with the same rigidity as a run-blocker that manifests itself in his heavy, two-hand strike approach that leaves him overextended when his punch doesn't land and being slow to reset and refit once engaged.

Foster tends to catch the bull rush with wide hands, creating easy access to his edges and getting pried open late in the rep. He is also inconsistent with his eyes and spacing against stunts and games, leaving late to sort and pass them off.

Overall, Foster has starter-level size, length and athletic ability, but those are clouded by several bad habits that too often leave him out-leveraged, late to adjust and overextended. Given his physical traits, flashes of power and lack of polish, he would be an ideal developmental pick who can be groomed into a contributor over time.

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GRADE: 6.5 (Potential Role Player/Contributor — 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 124

POSITION RANK: OT12

PRO COMPARISON: Shon Coleman

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.

HEIGHT: 5'11"

WEIGHT: 183

HAND: 8½"

ARM: 32"

WINGSPAN: 75⅝"

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40-YARD DASH: 4.51

3-CONE:

SHUTTLE:

VERTICAL:

BROAD:

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POSITIVES

— Fluid athlete who displays quick feet to transition and smooth hips to turn and run. Has the lateral movement to mirror receivers at the line of scrimmage, combined with the speed to run with most receivers.

— Scheme flexibility to play man and zone coverage. Does a good job of staying on top of routes in zone, with the proper spacing when playing underneath.

— Willing tackler who isn't afraid to get involved in the run game. Generally looks to hit the thigh pads to cut down ball-carriers at the legs.

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NEGATIVES

— Thin-framed athlete. Has the room to add bulk but lacks desired functional strength. Has struggled to fight through bigger receivers at the catch point and blockers in the open field.

— Can be too handsy when working downfield. Likes to grab and hold, leading to too many pass interference calls.

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2023 STATISTICS

— 9 G, 35 TOT, 1.5 TFL, 4 PD, 1 FF

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NOTES

— 32 career starts

— 3-star recruit in the 2020 class, per 247Sports

— 2022 SEC Fall Academic Honor Roll

— 2021 SEC Academic Honor Roll

— 2020-21 SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll

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OVERALL

Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is an average-size corner with long arms and great overall athleticism. He was an immediate starter his freshman season, playing in 10 games. His sophomore year was derailed by injuries, but he was able to come back for the 2022 season and produce 12 pass breakups. The multi-year starter then asserted himself as Missouri's top cornerback in 2023.

As a pass defender, Rakestraw uses his physicality and length to his advantage. He does a very good job of using his lateral movement skills to mirror and his long arms to control receivers in press. Rakestraw likes to get hands-on and disrupt routes as he works down the field. He has the fluidity to sink his hips and the foot quickness to transition out of breaks, although he often allows too much separation.

While working down the field, Rakestraw has the speed to stay in position, but he allows receivers to get on top of him in man coverage at times. Not one to capitalize on misplaced throws, he does a very good job of getting his hand in to swat the ball away. Rakestraw is generally calm with the ball in the air, but he often chooses to face guard and doesn't get his head around to locate the ball.

When defending the run, Rakestraw does a great job of identifying the play and quickly triggers to get in the mix. He shows off his physicality to take on blocks, and he does a great job of using his quickness to beat the block when given space.

Rakestraw's issues arise when he's matched against bigger blockers, as he can be walled off and forced to fight through stronger athletes. He can be a questionable tackler at times, often sitting down in space and allowing the ball-carrier to come barreling down on him. When he attacks the ball-carrier, he often looks to strike first and cut the legs out from the runner.

Rakestraw is a skillful cornerback who has a lot of tools to work with. He will need to continue to work on his overall strength and sharpen his technique up for the NFL. He should serve as immediate depth, but he could find his way onto the field as a starter within a few years into his NFL career.

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GRADE: 6.8 (Potential Role Player/Contributor — 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 97

POSITION RANK: CB13

PRO COMPARISON: Marco Wilson

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.

HEIGHT: 6'0"

WEIGHT: 179

HAND: 8⅝"

ARM: 31"

WINGSPAN: 74⅝"

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40-YARD DASH: 4.44

3-CONE:

SHUTTLE:

VERTICAL: 33.5"

BROAD:

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POSITIVES

— Smooth athlete with fluid hips and very good body control. Shows great twitch and agility in his short-area movements, combined with the top-end speed to carry receivers deep.

— Gets his head around to locate and play the ball. Doesn't panic when chasing from out of position and has very good timing when breaking up passes.

— Willing tackler who chops down ball-carriers at the legs.

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NEGATIVES

— Thin-framed athlete who lacks ideal strength for his size and position. Can get bumped off at the top of routes.

— Wrap and drag-down tackler who leaks extra yards on his tackles. Will need to continue to develop strength when tackling bigger backs.

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2023 STATISTICS

— 13 G, 51 TOT, 2.5 TFL, 4 INT, 13 PD, 1 FF

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NOTES

— Born Oct. 4, 2001

— 35 career starts

— 3-star recruit in the 2020 class, per 247Sports

— 2023 Second-Team All-America (AP, Walter Camp and CBS Sports/247 Sports)

— 2023 First-Team All-SEC (AP and Coaches)

— 2023 Midseason All-America (AP)

— 2023 Jim Thorpe Award Semifinalist

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OVERALL

Kris Abrams-Draine is a three-year player who started out as a receiver for his first five games at Missouri before switching to cornerback. He has good length for a cornerback but lacks the size and strength necessary for the NFL. His raw skill set allows him to run and cover most athletes he faces, but he will need to continue to develop his technique with his cover skills.

Abrams-Draine is at his best when he's in coverage. His time at receiver takes over with the ball in the air, and he does a great job of locating and attacking the ball in the air. He shows the body control and awareness necessary to play through the catch point or high-point the ball with his hands.

Abrams-Draine has the versatility necessary to play from press and off coverage, but he's best when he's able to see the routes develop in front of him. He has the foot quickness to transition and drive out of breaks, quickly closing the separation with proper angles. However, bigger receivers can cause trouble for him by bullying him on 50/50 balls or bumping him off at the top of routes.

Abrams-Draine is a willing defender who quickly triggers downhill to the run. He uses his quicks to beat blocks in space, but he can struggle when forced to take on blocks when in phase with the ball-carrier. He lacks the ideal strength to shock and disengage from blockers, leading to him often getting shielded or driven out of the play.

As a tackler, he does a great job of flying up with good aggression. However, he relies on throwing his body around without tackling or diving at the legs to cut down the ball-carrier.

Abrams-Draine has plenty of upside and has an NFL skill set, but he will need to continue to develop his body. A high-end developmental player, he has the opportunity to play within the first few years of his career. He may be best suited for a scheme fit, but he does provide some versatility within most defenses.

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GRADE: 6.8 (Potential Role Player/Contributor — 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 98

POSITION RANK: CB14

PRO COMPARISON: Tre Brown

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

Visit B/R's NFL Scouting Department hub for scouting reports on all of the top prospects.

Eli Drinkwitz clarified comments he made Tuesday about name, image and likeness rules to explain he fully supports college athletes being able to earn money.

The Missouri head coach said the amount of money being paid out to people in their late teens and early 20s is done in a "cavalier" manner and could lead to some unintended consequences without any proper regulation from the NCAA.

Full context of question and answer. I am no way complaining about player compensation! I’m FULLY SUPPORTIVE!! Always have been! https://t.co/orKO46NpQs pic.twitter.com/JvjZgSSYdi

— Eliah Drinkwitz (@CoachDrinkwitz) May 30, 2023

Drinkwitz was being criticized earlier in the day when his comment about athletes making more money than doctors was posted out of context:

Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz says college players, thru NIL, are making more money than his brother-in-law, who is a pediatrician. “He saves lives.”

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) May 30, 2023

There have been several coaches across the country who don't like the impact NIL is having on the college game.

Former Syracuse basketball coach Jim Boeheim told reporters in February the sport was in an "awful place" and said Pittsburgh, Miami and Wake Forest bought their teams from the transfer portal.

Boeheim did apologize for those comments, but he's hardly alone in calling out the new reality of trying to build a roster with money available to players.

Mike Rodak of AL.com noted last year that all 14 SEC head football coaches, including Drinkwitz, met for two days to discuss the impact of NIL on the sport.

"As Coach Cutcliffe has shared with us, we may be down right now, but we're going to keep fighting," Drinkwitz said at the time. "We're going to figure this out, because this is a great game worth fighting for, and it would be a shame to lose it or to throw up our hands and walk away from it."

The NCAA has been pushing for federal NIL legislation from Congress, though there has been no movement in that regard thus far.

Drinkwitz signed a contract extension with the Tigers in November that increased his salary to $6 million in 2023 and up to $7 million in the final season in 2027. The 40-year-old is 17-19 in three seasons at Missouri with back-to-back losing records in 2021 and 2022.

Missouri linebacker Chad Bailey was arrested Sunday morning on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Dave Matter.

Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz said the senior has been suspended as a result.

"We are aware of the situation involving Chad Bailey," he said. "He's been suspended according to Department of Athletics policy. We have high expectations for all of our student-athletes, on and off the field, and we will follow all departmental and campus policies."

Police pulled Bailey over for a lane violation and driving with an expired license plate, according to Matter: "Bailey told the officer he had consumed alcohol and then performed poorly on a field sobriety test, per the police statement."

Bailey was third on the team in tackles (57) in 2022 and finished with 8.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and one forced fumble in 11 games. Drinkwitz named him as one of the defensive captains ahead of the season.

In November, Bailey confirmed he will exhaust his final year of eligibility and remain at Missouri for the 2023 campaign.

Matter noted Missouri's student-athlete handbook calls for an athlete to serve a suspension of at least one week following an arrest.

HEIGHT: 6'4"

WEIGHT: 268

HAND: 8 5/8"

ARM: 33 7/8"

WINGSPAN: 82 1/8"

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40-YARD DASH: 4.76

3-CONE: 7.39

SHUTTLE: TBD

VERTICAL: 36.5"

BROAD: 10'2"

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POSITIVES

– Great size with an NFL-ready body for a defensive end.

– Good use of hands as a pass-rusher, accurate with his initial chops to knock the tackle's hands down and he combines that with a nice arm-over or rip to win around the edge or on the inside.

– Keeps his feet moving through contact when bull rushing and has enough strength to put weaker offensive tackles on their heels and collapse the pocket.

– Effective as the penetrator in line games, he attacks the tackle to draw the tackle inside and can get penetration against guards with a head of steam.

– As a run defender, he's physical and strong at the point of attack with good hand placement to get extension versus offensive linemen, and he can close the gap with tight ends.

– When unblocked on the backside of zone runs, he does a good job of staying tight to the line of scrimmage and squeezing to be able to make tackles for short gains if the frontside plugs up their gaps.

– Solid at getting off blocks, plenty of strength and decent violence when shedding.

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NEGATIVES

– Not going to win with speed around the edge as a pass-rusher, lacks acceleration off the line of scrimmage and can be a tick slow to react to the snap.

– Drops his hands when bull rushing, allowing blockers to make the first significant contact and latch onto him.

– Sub-par bend to turn tight corners when winning around the edge, not very flexible.

– Against gap runs, he's late to recognize and get underneath pullers as the spill player in run fits, leaving inside rushing lanes open.

– Is more of a waist bender than a knee bender to get a leverage advantage as a run defender.

– Struggles to fight back against pressure when taking on down blocks, he's not good at anticipating the down block coming and his pad level becomes an issue.

– Lacks the athleticism to break down and tackle in space.

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NOTES

– A 3-Star recruit in the 2019 class, No. 1,228 overall, No. 81 SDE, per 247Sports composite rankings

– No major injuries

– 33 career starts

– Career stats (four seasons): 117 total tackles (75 solo), 32 TFL, 17.5 sacks, 1 PD, 4 FFs

– 2022 Honors: First-Team All-SEC

– 2021 Honors: SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week (Week 11)

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OVERALL

Isaiah McGuire certainly looks the part at 6'4" and 274 pounds, and he puts that frame to good use. He's strong and physical at the point of attack to hold up against the run and is a solid power rusher. He also has good use of hands to add to his pass-rush arsenal, showing the ability to win with chop-rip and chop-swim moves.

However, McGuire does appear to lack some twitch and athleticism. He doesn't have the quickness that a lot of other pass rushers in this draft class have, and he's a little stiff when it comes to bending or turning tight corners around the edge. That makes the combination more important for him to try and dispel those narratives.

Schematically, the Missouri product would be best as a 5-technique for a team that uses a lot of even fronts. He's not athletic enough to play as a standup outside backer in odd fronts and isn't big enough to consistently line up as a 4i-technique defensive end.

That being said, teams looking for a solid all-around defensive end in the middle rounds should have him on their radar.

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GRADE: 6.6 (Potential Role Player/Round 4)

OVERALL RANK: 125

POSITION RANK: DL16

PRO COMPARISON: Kingsley Enagbare

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Written by B/R NFL Draft Scout Matt Holder