Having played through a torn labrum through much of last season and already hyperextending his right leg in the Tigers’ 30-27 win over Kansas State this season, quarterback Brady Cook is being implored by Eliah Drinkwitz and the Missouri coaching staff to take better care of himself when running.

“There has been a big emphasis on making the sure the quarterback knows he’s got to take care of himself,” Drinkwitz said. “He just has to know the difference between knifing and sliding, when do we need to finish forward because he keeps costing himself yardage by leaning back.”

Cook, a product of Chaminade High School out of St. Louis, has always dreamed of playing for the home state Tigers. After an up-and-down career thus far, the redshirt junior has appeared to put all of the pieces together in 2023 under new offensive coordinator Kirby Moore.

Cook has thrown for 1,468 yards and 11 touchdowns on 74.5% completion, and he has ran for 37 yards and 3 scores as well. His development has gone hand-in-hand with the Tiger offense’s explosive start to the season and, in turn, the team’s undefeated record. But, it has come at a cost.

“I’ve been really banged up to be honest with you,” Cook said following Mizzou’s win over Vanderbilt last Saturday. “I’ve got to get healthy for conference play, and I actually talked to James Franklin about how to protect myself last week and he gave me some pointers.

Franklin was the staring quarterback for the Tigers from 2010-13 and was a similarly dynamic athlete when he left the pocket.