Missouri
Missouri

Missouri Team Report

Updated: April 26, 2012 02:58 EST

Missouri's start to its 2012 spring practice was devoid of controversy. Unlike a year ago, where James Franklin battled Tyler Gabbert for the starting quarterback position, there was no question about who would lead Missouri into the SEC.

That changed during the second week of camp, however. Franklin dove for a loose ball during a drill, and came up holding his right arm in obvious pain. It was first ruled a sprain that wouldn't require surgery. After a few days, however, surgery was deemed necessary, and Franklin went under the knife about a week ago.

Enter Corbin Berkstresser. Although Franklin is projected to return in time for Missouri's August camp, all eyes have turned to the redshirt freshman from Lee's Summit, Mo. Berkstresser was the team's third-string quarterback in 2011, although he used a redshirt that season.?

Barring a setback from Franklin, Berkstresser won't be called on to start any early season games. But, the team is attempting to prepare Berkstresser to be ready, in case anything does happen to Franklin during the Tigers' first year in the SEC.

Early returns from Berkstresser's ascension have been mixed. He completed less than 50 percent of his passes in Missouri's first scrimmage on March 17. In the Tigers' next scrimmage, however, Berkstresser was 9-of-12 for 102 yards.

"I think he's doing some good things and then he'll come out and he'll do some things that he knows that are wrong, which is very typical," Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said. "He's got a very good arm, he's talented, he's a very good athlete, he's a competitor."

Berkstresser, who talks nearly as fast as he throws, said when the team returns to practice after spring break on April 2, he'll be a different player.

"My performance didn't help today, but I'm trying to shake it off," Berkstresser said on March 22. "A little bit of shakes today, but I've got to let them be able to trust me. Today was the last day of shakes."

As he prepares for Missouri's spring game on April 14, Berkstresser said he's trying to just gain consistency. At this point, there's no questioning his talent. Just ask his teammates.

"He's making the throws," receiver T.J. Moe said. "He's got the arm to do everything you want him to do."

--S Tavon Bolden was dismissed from the team last September, but after getting his academics in order, he rejoined the team in December. Bolden was in the running for a starting safety position before his dismissal, and now he's mainly working with the third-team defense. The good news for Bolden, however, is that there's a new safety coach. Alex Grinch, formerly of Wyoming, who said all of his players are receiving a "clean slate" this spring.

--One of the biggest personnel moves this spring was the switch of Matt Hoch from defensive tackle to defensive end. The early returns have been very promising. Hoch is playing at 290 pounds, and he was moved up to the first-string defensive line during the last week of practice before spring break. Hoch was signed to Missouri as a tight end, before moving to defensive end last season. While it's unlikely he'll start this season, as Sheldon Richardson is recovering from shoulder surgery this offseason, Hoch's improvement has added another body to the defensive tackle rotation.

SPRING MOVERS:

RB/FB Jared McGriff-Culver -- McGriff-Culver, a former walk-on, was Missouri's "big back" in 2011, and he saw limited carries. Now, at 250-pounds, McGriff-Culver is rotating in with the first-team offense. While he likely won't be a starter, his blend of size and speed will add some power to Missouri's rushing attack in 2012.

WR Gahn McGaffie -- McGaffie is already a Missouri celebrity after his game-opening kick-off return touchdown against Oklahoma in 2010. This spring, McGaffie is showing consistent hands as he works behind T.J. Moe in the slot receiver position. McGaffie led the team in receptions over Missouri's first two spring scrimmages.

C Mitch Morse -- Travis Ruth is slotted to be Missouri's starting center in 2012, but this spring, the team is working Morse at center. Already, Morse looks like a natural snapping the ball, and he's received positive reviews as a blocker. In the fall, he'll like become the team's starting left guard, but his ability to play center will add depth to a position that struggled last year with injuries.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Coaches preach, ever since I've been around here, be prepared to start no matter what, whether you're second, third or fourth. I'm preparing like that." -- Backup QB Corbin Berkstresser.

2012 OUTLOOK: The billboards saw it all -- "A New Era Begins." Missouri starts its first season in the SEC in 2012, and many predict the Tigers to be a middle-of-the-pack team in the East division. However, Gary Pinkel has continually raised expectations since he arrived in Columbia. Though this is a new challenge, the Missouri team isn't looking to go quietly into the nation's premier conference. An eight-win regular season should not be out of the question.

SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: There will be a lot of held-breaths on this front until QB James Franklin heals from shoulder surgery. Should he return in time for the season opener, Franklin will be the biggest part of Missouri's offense. There's no game-breaking running back like Henry Josey in 2011, but Franklin's mix of running and passing should make Missouri's spread a tough match-up for some SEC teams. There could be more of an evolution in the offense, as well, as the Tigers have run more under-center formations this spring.

SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: Defense is the biggest question-mark for Missouri in 2011. Sure, there aren't quite as many explosive offensives in the SEC, but Missouri's front seven is going to have its hands full stopping power rushing attacks. Missouri's defensive line could be its strong suit, with 300-pounders Sheldon Richardson and Lucas Vincent in the middle, and with Kony Ealy and Brad Madison -- both pass-rushing dynamos -- on the edge. Missouri's linebacker unit is finally healthy, but it's a whole new ballgame for them. Can a smaller linebacker corps hold up to the rigors of powerful SEC offensive lines?

SCOUTING THE SPECIAL TEAMS: Missouri returns it's do-it-all kicker, Trey Barrow. By the end of 2011, Barrow handled kick-offs, field goals and was one of the nation's better punters. This spring, however, he's been shaky. He hasn't made a 40-yard or more field goal in two scrimmages.

TOP NEWCOMERS:

WR Dorial Green-Beckham (Hillcrest High School, Springfield, Mo.) -- Green-Beckham, the nation's top-ranked player according to Rivals.com, chose Missouri over Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma. Without a doubt, he's the biggest get in Gary Pinkel's tenure. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound receiver broke the national career receiving yards mark, and seems tailor-made for Missouri's offense. He gives the Tigers' a home-run threat that they haven't had since Danario Alexander.

OG Evan Boehm (Lee's Summit West High School, Lee's Summit, Mo.) -- Boehm is one of the top interior linemen in the nation, according to every major recruiting service. If he was over 6-foot-3, Boehm may have been ranked even higher. Despite that, Boehm is a fundamentally sound blocker. While it's uncommon for an offensive lineman to play as a true freshman, Boehm will have a shot. Missouri lost both of its starting guards after the 2011 season.

QB Maty Mauk (Kenton High School, Kenton, Ohio) -- Mauk was a record-setting high school quarterback, putting up video-game numbers in his dad's wide-open spread offense. While he's only 6-foot-2, Mauk is a perfect fit for Missouri's offense. Already, he's drawing comparisons to Chase Daniel. With Franklin's shoulder injury, Mauk might have more of an opportunity to make a strong debut in the summer once he arrives on campus.

ROSTER REPORT:

--Missouri is missing plenty of starters this spring, although they're all expected to return this season. Among them are DT Sheldon Richardson and DE Brad Madison, who had offseason shoulder surgery.

--LT Elvis Fisher was awarded a sixth-year of eligibility after tearing his patellar tendon before the 2011 season. The team is bringing Fisher back slowly, and he's being held out of full-speed drills so far this spring.

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