Missouri hasn’t had an open quarterback competition since 2011, and coach Eli Drinkwitz told reporters on Tuesday that the announcement of a starter won’t happen anytime soon.

The competition is between TCU transfer Shawn Robinson and returning backups Taylor Powell and Connor Bazelak. The lack of spring practices, just 3, likely is part of the reason for the coaching staff’s extended evaluation period. Not to mention the recent schedule reveal which means Missouri opens against Alabama.

“Everybody is going to have to guess and it is going to be used as an advantage for us,” he said. “I’m just creating a workload for somebody, so poor GAs and QCs.”

Robinson has the most experience as a starter, and seemingly the most athletic tools to offer the offense. He was ranked the No. 6 dual-threat QB in his recruiting class, and had 230 yards and 3 rushing touchdowns in 2018. But he was largely near the bottom of the Big 12 quarterbacks in overall production.

Bazelak was recently cleared to return following ACL surgery after a knee injury suffered in the season finale against Arkansas, where he made his first start. He was 7-for-9 passing for 80 yards in what shaped up to be a solid debut. Drinkwitz recruited Bazelak while he was offensive coordinator at N.C. State.

Powell is largely in the same boat as Bazelak, but with a little more experience. He passed for just 84 yards in the loss to Georgia last season, however, he had a decent game against Arkansas after Bazelak’s injury with 8 of 14 passing for 105 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He largely lacks the physical tools of Robinson and Bazelak.

Whoever wins the job won’t be introduced to the public until the first snap against Alabama.