Yeah, 10-3 ain’t half bad for Missouri Tigers in 2024. Still, the SEC’s a grind. They’re always up against those heavy hitters, which makes things tough. But right now, it’s the bad ol’ QB debate that is plaguing Eli Drinkwitz’s squad. Their former quarterback Brady Cook has made his way to the NFL. Now the choice mostly lies between Sam Horn and Beau Pribula. However, an SEC insider sounds alarm on how the $1.5 million QB might have to wait a bit longer.   

The 2025 season marks the 6th year for HC Drinkwitz. But he’s in absolutely no rush to prove anything, though. He’s taking his sweet time naming a starting quarterback for 2025. And you can feel the quarterback competition heating up at spring camp. Pribula, the Penn State transfer, and returners Horn and Drew Pyne are all battling to fill Cook’s shoes. Now this calls for some interesting plot.

It even got SEC Mike and Cousin Shane on the SEC Football Podcast talking, and Mike had a question for his co-host. He laid his focus on the probability: “I wanted to ask you because now that Sam Horn is cleared, he can’t stay healthy, but I believe every time he’s got injured it was on baseball field…but if it’s true, and again this On3 reported it. So if Beau Pribula, if they really paid him 1.5 million dollars, are they really going to let him sit the bench?” Now this is not what Drinkwitz had in his mind when he landed the Penn State QB star. After all, the Tigers dished out an NIL package valued at $1.5 million to land Pribula out of the transfer portal. But what made the Tigers come up with a hefty package?

Pribula was a three-star player out of high school. The QB completed 66.1% of his passes for 275 yards and one interception for the Nittany Lions. Plus, he has shown potential on the ground, picking up 571 yards and 10 touchdowns. Now what about Horn? He hasn’t completed a pass since 2023. Last year in February, the QB underwent surgery for a torn UCL. The injury was so bad that it forced him to miss the last baseball season as a pitcher and all of this football season. 

SEC Mike stated, “Sam Horn who again he was a touted prospect, he had a lot of offers. Tennessee really wanted him, I know that could it could it be Sam Horn… can they afford a $1.5 million backup?” To which Cousin Shane replied, “Yeah. I mean you’re going to put the guy out there that’s going to help you win at the end of the day..Sam was highly talented himself; we just not got to see it.”  Looks like the luck is going to be in Horn’s favor.

The QB battle heats up with Sam Horn’s recovery 

Right now, when it comes to their QB room, HC Drinkwitz is following the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu. “You know, there’s an old saying: ‘When the student is ready, the teacher will appear,’ right?” the HC stated in the press meet. Now for the ones wondering whether or not Mizzou is close to naming its next QB1, Drinkwitz came with a jesty reply.

The HC went out with some fun play to decide who would take starting reps for March 1’s practice. “You know how we decided who’s going to be the first quarterback out there today? Old-fashioned paper, rock, scissors.” However, over the next three weeks, they will have to make the final call. Meanwhile, Horn, as he returns for his fourth season as a Tiger, is looking healthy and is throwing again. 

The QB underwent Tommy John surgery last year. The HC further revealed that the QB is returning to the practice in a limited fashion near the end of last season. However, Drinkwitz now gave Horn a clean chit, stating there are “no concerns with” the former 4-star prospect. Looks like Eli Drinkwitz is way too happy at Sam Horn’s return.

He stated, “It’s been fun to watch him, see how much he can apply his growth from watching last year.” Choosing Horn for QB1 could turn their $1.5 million investment into one of the highest-paid benchwarmers in town.