Missouri football vs. Murray State: Scouting report, score prediction for 2024 season opener

There’s a problem with playing Murray State in your opening game of the season.

Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz addressed it Sunday, as he previewed the Tigers’ opening game of the season, which comes Thursday evening in Columbia against the FCS Racers.

There just ain’t a whole bunch of tape for this new-look Murray State team.

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The Racers went 2-9 last season. They have a new coaching staff and, according to their game notes, 65 new players on the roster, including 46 transfers.

“Trying to figure out what your matchups are,” Drinkwitz said, “is almost impossible.”

Here is what to know and watch for Thursday on a spruced up and newly sponsored Faurot Field:

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Who will be Murray State’s starting quarterback vs. Missouri football?

Division-II South Dakota Mines transfer quarterback Jayden Johannsen will suit up to start against the Tigers.

Speaking of scouting challenges …

“Their starting quarterback played at Dakota School of Mines, he was a finalist for the Harlan Hill award,” Drinkwitz said. “And we’re watching Hudl tape in order to figure out what he's done on the internet. Like, it's a unique challenge.”

Like Drinkwitz said, Johannsen was a nominee for D-II player of the year in 2022 after averaging 290.8 passing yards per game while throwing for 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Last season, the quarterback averaged 231.2 yards through the air and threw 28 TD passes to 11 interceptions. Johannsen has 24 career rushing scores in 36 total appearances.

The quarterback has some dual-threat ability, but with more than 30 pass attempts per game last season with South Dakota Mines, the Tigers should expect the Racers’ starter to drop back to pass more often than not. That’s a good chance for those edge rushers to get some early season hits.

New coaches on Racers’ sidelines

Without much else to go off, that means Mizzou can just go back and watch what Murray State’s new coach and coordinators like to run, right?

Not quite.

Jody Wright was hired to his first head coaching stint after two seasons as South Carolina’s tight ends coach. Murray State’s new defensive coordinator is former Florida A&M play-caller Ryan Smith. One of the Racers’ co-offensive coordinators, Jimmy Ogle, hasn’t called plays since 2021 when he was the OC at Jacksonville State.

Murray State’s key players

Willie Gaines transferred in from Colorado after limited action last season. He was, however, a frequent target at his previous stop, Jackson State, where he caught 27 passes for 446 yards and five touchdowns.

There could be some familiarity at cornerback, too, as East St. Louis High grad KaVan Reid may potentially matchup against another former Flyer in star wide receiver Luther Burden III. Reid, along with Racers defensive tackle, was included on the Reese’s Senior Bowl watch list.

The Racers have two preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference selections on the roster: Offensive lineman Ahston Flinn out of Jackson, Missouri, and a high school teammate of MU center Connor Tollison; and safety Kanyon Walker, who is the Racers’ top returning tackler.

Three-star freshman running back Jordan Washington is due to start for the Racers.

What will Batoon’s defense look like?

Corey Batoon will call plays for the first time as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator.

It should be a decent opportunity to ease in some transfers and in-house developmental pieces. Players like redshirt freshman Nicholas DeLoach, who is listed after Toriano Pride Jr. with an ‘or’ between the names for starting reps, should get a chance to cover some receivers in a live game.

The same goes up front for young defensive tackles Marquis Gracial, Jalen Marshall and Sam Williams, all of whom made the team’s first unofficial depth chart. In the first half, the way the Tigers plan to rotate that unit should become more clear.

And, of some intrigue, what will the specialized roles for defensive end Johnny Walker Jr. and Daylan Carnell look like this season?

Walker has been tabbed for the ‘Joker’ defensive end role, which is a boundary edge that in certain situations will drop back into coverage. Carnell has played as a hybrid-linebacker/safety for the past two seasons. Under Batoon, will that role look any different? Time will tell.

Score prediction: Missouri 56, Murray State 10

Yes, it’s new. Yes, the preparation surely has been painstaking. But let's not lose sight of the forest … it’s Murray State, a team clearly in full rebuild mode.

Mizzou should be able to rest its key players after half time. Some of MU’s reserve players, barring disaster, ought to get a taste of Division-I college football in the second half, which is when Murray State may be able to take some consolation points home.

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This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football vs. Murray State: Scouting report, score prediction for 2024 season opener