Eli Drinkwitz decides on Mizzou starting QB for season opener
By Andrew Olson
Published:
Eli Drinkwitz is going with incumbent starter Brady Cook to take the first offensive snaps of Mizzou’s 2023 season, according to reports.
Matt Zenitz of On3 was first with the news. On Aug. 19, Drinkwitz stated that Cook and Sam Horn would both play in the first 2 games and QB1 for the season would be named ahead of Week 3. Drinkwitz told ESPN’s Chris Low that he is sticking with his 2 QB plan for Thursday’s game against South Dakota.
Eliah Drinkwitz tells ESPN that Brady Cook will start at QB for @MizzouFootball in tonight’s opener and that Sam Horn will also play. Drinkwitz previously said he planned to play multiple QBs, but didn’t name a starter. @mzenitz first reported per sources that Cook would start.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) August 31, 2023
Cook, a redshirt junior, started all 13 games in 2022. He completed 65% of his passes for 2,724 yards, 14 touchdowns and 7 interceptions while adding 585 yards and 6 scores on the ground. Cook was voted a team captain for 2023.
Horn joined the program in 2022, taking a redshirt last fall. A former 4-star prospect out of Collins Hill in Georgia, Horn made his Mizzou debut in the New Mexico State game, recording 10 rushing yards. Horn was on the baseball team this past spring, pitching in 4.1 innings.
Mizzou has another notable name in the QB room. Jake Garcia, a former top 50 recruit, transferred to Mizzou from Miami this offseason. In 2022, he completed 59.6% of his passes for 803 yards, 5 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Garcia was listed as the third-string QB on Mizzou’s unofficial depth chart.
Thursday’s game is set for 7 p.m. CT/8 p.m. ET, airing on the SEC Network. The Tigers host Middle Tennessee in Week 2. On Wednesday, Drinkwitz said the QB competition would extend into Week 1. We’ll see if Week 2 is another multi-QB game for the Tigers.
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
