Notes and Observations from Practice 5 of Missouri Football's Fall Camp

The Missouri Tigers hit the field for day number five of fall camp practice Saturday morning.

Missouri Tigers players line up for warmups during fall camp practice on Saturday, August 3 in Columbia, Missouri. / Joey Van Zummeren/MissouriOnSI

COLUMBIA, Mo. — The 2024 season will kick off for the Missouri Tigers 26 days from Saturday when Murray State visits Faurot Field for a Thursday night matchup. The Tigers held their fifth practice of fall camp Saturday morning. Here's a few quick notes from the session of the practice that the media was allowed to view.

• Joshua Manning was taking snaps on the boundary with the starting receivers, paired with Luther Burden III in the slot. Manning could be a breakout candidate this season, even in a crowded WR room, after an impressive spring that he capped off by winning offensive MVP in the spring game. Today, he was likely taking some workload off of Theo Wease's plate.

"Josh is very consistent," head coach Eli Drinkwitz said after practice. "I think he does a really good job of finding a role on special teams. We really challenge everybody to break your role on the team, find a place you can help us. Help us. He's always helping specialties, but he's done a great job in the wide receiver room. We try to be conscientious of Theo's rep, count and yardage, and he (Manning) goes in there and does exactly what he's supposed to do."

• Jack McGarry (sophomore), Talan Chandler (Freshman) and Tristan Wilson (Sophomore) were all taking center snaps behind Connor Tollison. Drinkwitz highlighted Chandler as a freshman who has stood out so far.

• Rotation for running backs during receiving drills: Nate Noel, Marcus Carroll, Jamal Roberts, Tavorus Jones, Kewan Lacy, Bryce Jackson. Roberts looked really smooth in space. Looks like Lacy will still have to work his way up the depth chart.

• Players getting a look at punt returner: Marvin Burks, Marquis Johnson, Burden, Daniel Blood, Courtney Crutchfield and James Madison. Even though Burden and Johnson are important starters, Drinkwitz says the risk of injury isn't a significant factor when deciding who will be the returner.

"We have so many guys who are really good with the ball in their hand that we have to get these guys touches in in return units, because you can't always guarantee you're going to be able to get them a touch (on offense).

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