#23 Missouri Tigers

2010 Recap

Blaine Gabbert

Mr. Blaine Gabbert was the man in 2010 and under his leadership the Missouri Tigers began the year on fire. Defeating eventual Big XII Co-champions Texas A&M and then #3 Oklahoma. The Tigers then lost back to back games to Nebraska and Texas Tech and lost their third game of the season to Iowa in the Insight Bowl.

The 2010 season was widely considered a season of ups and downs, of successes (wins against Oklahoma and Texas A&M) and failures (losses against Nebraska and Texas Tech). The departure of Blaine Gabbert a year early to the NFL proves to be a key question mark heading into the 2011 season.

Recruiting

Sheldon Richardson

Unlike the powerhouses of the college landscape Missouri has not been given great access to the vault of high school athletes. That is not to say that the Tigers have not turned in successful recruiting classes or secured pledges from the country's finest - it has always been quantity rather than quantity as the primary problem facing Missouri recruiting. The 2011 recruiting class was headlined by Visalia, California Defensive Tackle, Sheldon Richardson. Richardson a junior college transfer proves to be an instant staple in the Missouri defense, although incumbents Terrell Resono, Dominique Hamilton, and Jimmy Burge will prove difficult to push for playing time. Other than Richardson the Missouri recruiting class is thin in nearly all positions of need. No player outside of Richardson was ranked among the nations top 250 prospects. Time will tell how well this recruiting class actually is but according to sources Missouri must do better in its 2012 class to hope to continue its growth among the Big XII elite.

2011 Season Prediction
Had Blaine Gabbert returned for his senior season Missouri would have been a lock for a top ten team and possibly as high as a top five national title contender. But with Gabbert's early departure the Tigers take a drastic step back. Outside of the quarterback position the Tigers return 9 starters on offense from the 2010 team including last years leading receiver T.J. Moe, and 6 starters on defense.

James Franklin

The success of the 2011 season invariably hinges on the play of the replacement quarterback. At this point in the summer it fails to be seen who that will be but smart money at this juncture is on Sophomore James Franklin who played sparingly in 2010. And with the transfer of Tyler Gabbert (Blaine Gabbert's younger brother) to Louisville the quarterback position is likely Franklins to lose. If the Tigers rally around Franklin and play at their highest level which the team showed flashes of last season it is not unlikely that the Tigers will compete for the Big XII title. CTSports predicts Missouri to finish 9-3 with losses against Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M.

2011 Schedule
Sep. 3 - Miami (OH)
Sep. 9  - @Arizona State
Sep. 17 - Western Illinois
Sep. 24 - @Oklahoma            
Oct. 8 - @Kansas State
Oct. 15 - Iowa State
Oct. 22 - Oklahoma State   
Oct. 29 - @Texas A&M
Nov. 5 - @Baylor     
Nov. 12 -  Texas 
Nov. 19 - Texas Tech      
Nov. 26 - Kansas (Kansas City, MO)