Question marks at quarterback
Following Monday’s suspension of Maty Mauk and this mornings news about Eddie Printz’s impending transfer, there are some developing questions about Missouri’s quarterback position going forward.
It may be premature to breakdown the position at this point, with Mauk’s status going forward still an unknown. But, right now, Missouri has two scholarship quarterbacks in good standing on the roster: Sophomore Drew Lock and redshirt sophomore Marvin Zanders.
Missouri’s staff was clearly preparing for at least one departure from that group with the scholarship offer and quick commitment of Tulsa (Okla.) quarterback Micah Wilson, but Wilson isn’t enrolling until June. At this point, Wilson isn’t part of the conversation.
The biggest question going into spring and then beyond is this -- what happens if Missouri only has one scholarship quarterback coming back for 2016? This is not writing off Zanders at all, but quarterback is the only position where, if you’re not No. 1, you’re probably not playing. Zanders was already beaten out by a younger player prior to last season, and sources have repeatedly told PowerMizzou.com that Zanders wants to remain a quarterback. Maybe he won’t go anywhere, but it is at least something to look at as a possibility.
The last time Missouri entered a stretch with this much uncertainty at the quarterback position was 2009. The Tigers had two early enrollees in the 2009 signing class, Blaine Dalton and Ashton Glaser. They only had one returning scholarship quarterback -- Blaine Gabbert, who played sparingly as a true freshman in 2008. The position was clouded even more following Dalton’s dismissal that summer.
But during the season, the depth was tested once Gabbert injured his ankle against Nebraska and then played through the injury for the next few games, until Missouri’s bye week allowed him to rest.
Missouri’s options for adding insurance policies to the quarterback depth chart are dwindling. One of Barry Odom’s first moves after his hire was going after junior college quarterback Jerod Evans, but Evans committed to Virginia Tech, and has since enrolled. There are likely no more early enrollee quarterbacks on the market, and if there were, the time frame to actually enroll early for the semester is nearing its end.
Missouri still may be in the market for another 2016 quarterback out of high school, to enroll in June. If there are more depth concerns following spring, the staff could also reassess unsigned junior college quarterbacks. There also is at least the potential of looking at graduate student transfers that occur after spring practice.
But, for spring practice, Missouri may be walking a thin line at quarterback, as we await further word of Mauk's status with the team.
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