Eli Drinkwitz explains why he named a starting QB right after spring camp
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Eli Drinkwitz wasted no time this offseason. The Missouri head coach told reporters directly after spring camp that Ole Miss transfer Austin Simmons would be the team’s starting quarterback next season.
This decision was made far earlier than Drinkwitz has named starting QBs in the past. Last season Drinkwitz didn’t decide between Beau Pribula, Sam Horn and Matt Zollers until just before Week 1.
When asked what made Drinkwitz so confident to name Simmons the starter, he answered by saying that he regrets how he handled last year’s starting decision. He mentioned that that naming Simmons the starter will help allow “leadership to take hold within our team.”
It also helps that Simmons is just a solid quarterback who comes to Mizzou with SEC starting experience over backup Matt Zollers. The former Rebel started for Lane Kiffin’s squad last season before Trinidad Chambliss took over in Week 3 following Simmons’ early ankle injury. Simmons has steps to take to be considered a good SEC quarterback, that shouldn’t be surprising for anyone to hear, but the lefty has an impressive arm that will lead the Tigers to start 2026.
Mizzou will open its season on August 28 against Central Arkansas.
Ethan Stone is a Saturday Down South News Editor and an advocate for the return of the Seattle Supersonics.
