Missouri fans watching Saturday night’s preseason game between the Saints and Patriots were in for a familiar sight: Marcus Murphy fielding punts and kickoffs.

For three years, that was Murphy’s job as a Tiger. The primary returner for Missouri, he earned All-American honors and became a finalist for the Hornung Award (for the most versatile player in college football) along the way.

Coach Gary Pinkel and Missouri are now tasked with replacing Murphy. Figuring out whom will return punts and kickoffs could be more important than solidifying Missouri’s depth chart at receiver or defensive line.

Pinkel still hasn’t said for sure who will be starting on the punt and kickoff return teams, but he offered insight to the Columbia Daily Tribune’s David Morrison about what he’s looking for in both roles:

“Kick returners, you’ve got a guy that’s got to be special with the football in their hands, and you’ve got to be able to trust them. Punt returners, you’ve got to be able to catch the ball with someone about ready to blow you up. You’ve got to have ice water in your veins. I think you’ve really got to want to do it to be a punt returner. Murph loved it. But there’s a lot of guys that like it until they get whacked a few times. Then they don’t. Those are things we’re looking at and evaluating. It’ll be fun. That’s been set for four years. We’ve had one of the best in the nation doing that all the time. Those are big shoes to fill and there’s a lot of yards there. We’ll see what happens.”

– Columbia Daily Tribune 

As many have predicted, it seems like Pinkel will be filling Murphy’s shoes with multiple players. That’s probably a good thing, as the players who have been handling those duties during drills and scrimmages have other important responsibilities for the Tigers.

All signs point to cornerback Aarion Penton getting the call as punt returner, at least initially. He started off the spring and fall atop the special teams depth chart and has continued to get most of the first-team return reps throughout August practice.

It’s tough to get a read on how well he’s done as a returner, though, because Missouri is splitting reps at punter between Corey Fatony and Dayton Balvanz, who Pinkel acknowledged are competing for the starting job. That could be throwing a wrinkle into return drills, as blockers and long snappers have to adjust to two different punters during a scrimmage.

Per Pinkel’s description of what he’s looking for in a punt returner, Penton seems to fit the mold. He’s one of the Tigers fastest players, but has also become a bigger hitter as he progressed through a starting cornerback role last season. He’s bulky enough to take some blows with the football, too, and demonstrated good hands last season in the secondary.

Safety Ian Simon has been the other player receiving punts during practice lately, but has an uphill climb to take the job from Penton as Simon was not initially listed as a returner on the depth chart.

He could factor on the kickoff team, though. If that happens, it will likely be an all-secondary affair. Safety Anthony Sherrils and cornerback John Gibson were the primary kickoff men during Missouri’s last open practice. Pinkel seems to be favoring prior special teams experience in this spot, even though Sherrils and Gibson also have starting roles in the secondary this season. But there is an opportunity for younger players to gain experience here, notably Ray Wingo, Thomas Wilson, Richaud Floyd and Cam Hilton.

Whomever Pinkel decides will handle Murphy’s former duties will have plenty to live up to. The Saints player averaged nearly 30 yards per return kickoff last season, while also being the only player in the country to score touchdowns via the rush, catch, kickoff and punt return.