COLUMN: With Cook, Mizzou can compete in the SEC

If you have a quarterback, you have a chance.

That is the golden rule of football, no matter the level.

Through No. 23 Missouri's rise to the rankings, it is evident that the Tigers have a quarterback that makes them contenders in the SEC.

It may have taken a while, but the past two weeks have shown that Brady Cook is that quarterback. The St. Louis native returned home and completed 18 of 25 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns to lead Mizzou to a 34-27 win over Memphis at the Dome in America's Center on Saturday, Sept. 23.

It was only the second time in the redshirt junior's career in which he threw for over 300 yards. Not only that, but it was also the second straight week he has thrown for that much, and it has led to the biggest two wins of the Tigers' season. The Tigers knocked off defending Big 12 champion Kansas State (then No. 15) 30-27 on Sept. 16, and now their victory at the Dome has led to Mizzou's first 4-0 start since 2013 and first appearance in the Top 25 rankings since 2019.

Through the non-conference portion of the season, Cook has thrown for 1,073 yards and seven touchdowns without an interception. He has also scored three rushing touchdowns as well.

Missouri quarterback Brady Cook awaits the snap from center Connor Tollison, a Jackson native, during a game against Memphis on Saturday, Sept. 23, at The Dome in America's Center in St. Louis. Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

“That kid is the toughest kid that I've ever met,” Missouri running back Cody Schrader said about Cook. “I think that he keeps showing it week in and week out and he keeps fighting for the team.”

Cook's first start came in a bowl game, a 24-22 loss to Army in the Armed Forces Bowl to end the 2021 season. He finished his first year as a starter with 2,739 yards, 14 passing touchdowns, and six rushing scores against seven interceptions. He is clearly on his way to surpass those stats and lead Mizzou past the years-long rut of .500 regular seasons.

“That kid is Mizzou’s quarterback,” Schrader said.

Cook has certainly learned how to use his receivers properly this season. His game against Memphis started with a 76-yard touchdown pass to Marquis Johnson.

"I just saw green," Johnson said.

The freshman receiver has two catches so far this season, but both have established his primary purpose on the Mizzou offense as the deep threat. His first catch went for 42 yards a week ago against Kansas State.

"They came and recruited me for a reason," Johnson said. "I'm here to do what I do best."

Another star from Saturday was Luther Burden III, who caught 10 passes for 177 yards, both career highs.

“Me and Brady were on point tonight,” Burden said. “All the work we did in the spring is paying off.”

The sophomore from East St. Louis amassed 375 yards as a freshman last season. He has 504 yards this season with eight more games to go.

“We gotta throw him the ball more; sucker is fast as lightning,” Mizzou head coach Eliah Drinkwitz said. “We got to continue to find ways to get him the ball vertically down the field.”

Mizzou begins SEC play with a road game against Vanderbilt on Saturday in Nashville, Tennessee. At this point, 4-4 in the conference may seem disappointing, but it will result in the best season of the Drinkwitz era.