Vanderbilt redshirt freshman quarterback Johnny McCrary will make his first career start at Missouri on Saturday. Head coach Derek Mason named McCrary the starter this week, making him the fourth different starting quarterback this season. Vanderbilt will be the first SEC team to start four quarterbacks this season.

“Johnny will probably be the guy to get the start this week,” Mason said. “We’ll put that out of the way before we speculate on who’s doing what, when, where. I thought Johnny had a good Sunday (practice), and Wade (Freebeck) is right there. They are going to work hard for us until our leader gets back.”

Sophomore quarterback Patton Robinette has yet to be cleared to play since suffering a concussion during a Sept. 20 loss to South Carolina. Despite being sidelined for more than a month, Mason said Robinette’s concussion is not a career-ending condition.

“I have all the confidence in the world that Patton will be back, sooner than later,” Mason said.

Freebeck has started the past three games in Robinette’s absence, but suffered a “small finger injury” during Vanderbilt’s 21-20 win over Charleston Southern on Oct. 11 prior to the bye week. McCrary finished the game with 169 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 10-of-16 passing.