Mizzou was back at the Stephens Indoor Facility on a humid Friday in Columbia as fall camp’s second full week continued.
The media was on hand to cover the first six periods of practice and also talked to wide receivers Caleb Goodie Sr. and Donovan Olugbode alongside cornerback Chris Graves Jr. and edge rusher Langden Kitchen on the defensive side.
Here’s what we saw and heard:
Notebook
- Starting quarterback Austin Simmons led the team in Tiger Jacks today at the beginning of practice. The Ole Miss transfer’s quick hold on the starting spot and a leadership role in the offense has been a departure from the far longer process of choosing a QB1 last year.
- Blake Craig (aka Craig the Leg) looks more than ready to resume his role after missing nearly all of last season. He went 4-for-4 on field goals and kicked it over the netting twice, hitting the translucent panels that make up the top portion of the practice facility’s north end zone wall.
- The practices of portion open to the media had a fairly heavy special teams focus, including onside kick drills and punt returns. Naeshaun Mongtomery, Goodie and Olugbode practiced roles on the ‘hands team’ portion of the onside kick recovery unit.
- Goodie, Montgomery and Olugbode also fielded some punts alongside DeMarion Fowlkes, Shaun Terry II and freshman running back Preston Hatfield.
- Cornerbacks Jahlil Florence, Cameron Keys and Trashundon Neal, plus safety Carter Stewart, got reps as the ‘gunners’ on the punt coverage team during the special teams portion.
- Terry got some run time with the first string in practice today during a two-minute drill and recorded a few receptions as Simmons led the offense down the field. The sophomore looks like he’s ready to take a step up in playing time and establish himself as one of the first receivers off the bench.
- Matt Zollers led the second string during the two-minute drill. His main competition for the backup spot in Nick Evers, the fifth-year journeyman who transferred in this offseason.
- On the defensive end, Sione Laulea had a nice pass break-up during the second team portion of the two-minute drill.
- Finally, Sterling Webb’s physical conditioning was noticeably improved from the start of camp, when he’d just rejoined the team after winning his case for an additional year of eligibility. He’ll provide some much needed experience and proven production on the interior of the defensive line this season after making eight starts and recording 20 tackles in 2025.
Quotes
Langden Kitchen on personal goals and what being a leader means to him:
“Just getting better on my pass rush and becoming a better leader on the field and off the field, just pushing the edge room to become better and getting closer as a unit too as well… Being a leader is just talking to everyone on the team, not belittling anyone, talking to walk-ons, talking to anyone; everyone’s the same here, no matter what. Doesn’t matter if you’re one or five, everyone’s serious. We’re a brotherhood.”
Caleb Goodie’s favorite part about playing with Austin Simmons:
“He’s accustomed to winning; he’s won before, so he’s familiar with that, and I’m just trusting him now. This is my first time in the SEC, so I’m just trusting him.”
Donovan Olugbode on where he’s grown the most from year one to two:
“Probably my overall knowledge. Being in the SEC in college football for one year, getting my feet wet, and learning all the keys and how defenses are doing it.”
Chris Graves Jr. on what it’s like playing with Cayden Lee and Austin Simmons again:
“I’d say it made me a little more comfortable knowing that I’ve got those guys by my side even though they’re on the opposite side.”
Kitchen speaks on his journey to Mizzou:
“It’s been a crazy journey, but it’s been awesome. Coming home to play for the Missouri Tigers, it’s been awesome, and just learning from our players like Zion Young and Damon Wilson, I’m going to listen. And now, just picking the head of Darris every single practice, just like, well, I could do better there, or he’s picking my head, saying, ‘Hey, what can I do better there?’ Just learning from each other.”
Olugbode comments on having Chip Lindsey as a coach:
“He’s been good. I like Chip a lot. He’s been in the SEC before, so he knows what the SEC is like. He’s a good play caller, good guy. So definitely good to have him around.”
Goodie on the challenges of learning an SEC-level routine/offense:
“It’s definitely challenging, but I’d say I’ve become accustomed to it. It’s just playing faster and playing with a left-handed quarterback; it’s just getting used to that.”
Olugbode on how he’s seen Austin Simmons’ leadership unfold:
“He’s not afraid to speak up when something’s going bad, or something like that. He stepped into that leader role fast and knew what he wanted to accomplish from this team and knew what he wanted.”
Graves’ observations of Jahlil Florence:
“Jahlil, he’s physical, good on his feet, a smart guy. I think he’s gonna be a good player.”