Mizzou will have a new-look offensive line under first-year coach Barry Odom.

Change was inevitable, given that long-time contributors Connor McGovern and Evan Boehm, among others, exhausted their eligibility at the conclusion of the 2015 season.

As Odom and new offensive line coach Glen Elarbee try to sort through the depth chart this spring, some addition hurdles have appeared on the path to a new line.

Nate Crawford, who started eight games for the Tigers last season, is nursing a back injury that required surgery in the past.

Reserve lineman Clay Rhodes missed Thursday’s practice due to a personal matter, which drew this statement from Odom:

https://twitter.com/DavidCMorrison/status/710608155588173824

The Tigers also decided to move defensive lineman Tyrell Jacobs to the offensive side of the ball for a few practices to take a look at him as a guard, a plan which could offer some addition depth if it works out:

In meantime, it appears as though Tanner Owen and Tyler Howell have been splitting time at left tackle, while Paul Adams has been seeing the snaps at right tackle and Alec Abeln has worked at center, according to Mizzou beat writer David Morrison:

https://twitter.com/DavidCMorrison/status/710609461069668352

https://twitter.com/DavidCMorrison/status/710612801023139842

As the Tigers look to improve what was the league’s worst offensive output in 2015, finding a solid group of lineman to both protect Drew Lock and pave the way for a more productive rushing attack have to be at the top of the priority list for Odom and his staff.

And the fact that, according to Mizzou beat writer Dave Matter, Odom has been most impressed with that unit’s effort through five spring practices is a good sign.

It will be interesting to see how things play out for this unit as spring practice finishes up, and who draws the starts at which positions once the spring game arrives.