HOOVER, Ala. — If you’re not familiar with the totality of Missouri’s depth chart, chances are you haven’t heard of Morgan Steward.

Even if you’re a solid Mizzou fan and know his name, you probably don’t know much else.

That’s because the redshirt junior has 21 career carries, all as a deep reserve in 2013. He hasn’t practiced with the team since last August, when a hip injury initially described as “day-to-day” evolved into a mysterious ailment that eventually required surgery in November.

This spring, Steward still limped and couldn’t practice.

“It was just like, ‘Is he ever going to come back?'” Maty Mauk said at SEC Media Days.

Entering last fall, the 6-foot, 210-pound Steward represented a vital part of the Tigers’ offensive plan. The backup to Russell Hansbrough, Steward would allow Marcus Murphy to operate out of the slot much more often as a receiver.

Missouri’s running backs are relatively small in stature. Hansbrough is 5-foot-9 and 195 pounds, for example. Steward is the largest and probably the strongest tailback on the team, while his speed is simultaneously comparative to last year’s 1,000-yard rusher.

The team re-installed Steward on its depth chart, released last week, as a third-team player. It still isn’t a guarantee he’ll be ready to start fall practice in two weeks, much less be 100 percent by the time Mizzou kicks off the season Sept. 5. But the Tigers contingent sounds optimistic.

Drastic inexperience at receiver and inconsistency from Mauk has tempered expectations for the Missouri passing game. The team’s stout, physical offensive line, and the return of Hansbrough (most career yards for an SEC running back outside of the Arkansas duo) portend a strong running game.

But to expect anything more than 216 offensive touches from Hansbrough, as he got in ’14, seems tenuous at best.

Steward could be just the player to offer the team’s likely No. 1 option on offense an occasional rest.

“(Steward) is a guy that can run north and south, he can make you miss and he’s going to go through you,” Mauk said, according to the Kansas City Star. “He’s a big guy, and it’s going to be a great addition to us to have him back out there with us.”