Eli Drinkwitz names ‘disappointing’ aspect of Mizzou offense he wants changed in 2026
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Eli Drinkwitz has gotten Mizzou football to matter the past 3 seasons, leading the Tigers to double-digit-win seasons in 2023 and 2024 followed by an 8-win season in 2025.
Things in Columbia have been just fine for Drinkwitz, and things could get even better this fall at Mizzou, especially if star running back Ahmad Hardy is available for the entire season or even for most of it as he rehabs and recovers from a gunshot wound.
But on Monday, during a session with reporters as fall camp got going at Mizzou, Drinkwitz focused on 1 particular aspect of his offense last season that fell short of expectations. It’s a part of the Tigers’ offense Drinkwitz believes must get better if Mizzou is to reach the next level among those SEC powerhouses.
And, naturally, it has nothing to do with the running game, which Hardy led to new heights in 2025. For Drinkwitz, it was all about the tight ends on his roster and challenging his offensive staff to get those tight ends more involved in stretching the field.
“I think one of the disappointing things that we have not consistently done with (tight end) Brett (Norfleet) is utilized him further down the field,” Eli Drinkwitz told reporters. “The guy’s 6-6. The further down the field he gets the taller he gets in comparison with the other players. We need to challenge ourselves to utilize the tight ends to be an advantage for us this year.”
Drinkwitz wants Mizzou to be great in 2026 and not just good, because the former would mean that the Tigers are actually contending for an SEC title this fall. Here is what the Kalshi odds are currently saying about Mizzou’s chances to get to that next level and win an SEC championship among the conference’s traditional powerhouses:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
