Missouri players to watch

MU football fans haven't had a lot to cheer about the past four seasons-- that changed last season when a redshirt-freshman quarterback Brad Smith became only the second player in NCAA history to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards.

Smith's golden year has put him on Heisman Trophy watch lists in Sports Illustrated and ESPN The Magazine. Smith could become the first Missouri player since quarterback Paul Christman in 1939 to finish among the top three in the Heisman voting.

Smith already ranks in the top 10 at Missouri in total offensive yards and is close to cracking the top 10 in yards passing and rushing. Smith put himself at the top of Missouri's single-season total offense record book with over 3,300 yards last season. Corby Jones set the previous record in 1997 with over 2,500 yards.

So what does the Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, Newcomer of the Year and Freshman of the Year do for an encore?

Even with only a year of experience under his belt and familiar faces around him, Smith's presence alone has the Tigers and their fans talking about a bowl game.

The key to any successful offense is a strong offensive line. And with all of the hype this season on the shoulders of quarterback Brad Smith, the Tigers' returning lineman of the year, Rob Droege, and his offensive linemates often fly under the radar.

Droege was chosen for the All-Big 12 preseason team this year and is expected to draw the attention of NFL scouts before the season is out. Coming off an All Big 12 nod by conference coaches, the St. Louis native hopes to elevate an offense which turned heads last season.

At 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds, Droege's size gives him an edge against most lineman he'll face this season in the Big 12. And when Droege isn't out-muscling the competition, he's out-thinking them. Droege has been on the first team All-Big 12 Academic Team during each of his first three seasons.

With the loss of defensive linemen Antwaun Bynum and Keith Wright, who combined for 16 sacks and 43 tackles for loss, junior linebacker James Kinney will have to step up in order to help Missouri's defense improve.

Kinney is the top returning tackler in the Big 12 with 144 tackles last season, including 10 tackles for loss and six sacks. In his first full season as a starter Kinney recorded 10 tackles or more in every game except one. Kinney's 12.33 tackles-per-game ranked ninth nationally and helped him earn All Big 12 honors.

Despite having one of the most prolific offenses in school history Missouri managed only five wins last season. But Kinney's leadership and continued stellar play will go a long way in determining whether the Tigers can win the close games. Missouri lost by a touchdown or less three times last season and had back-to-back 42-35 losses.

Darius Outlaw has one of the most unenviable jobs on Missouri's roster.

Outlaw, a senior in his second year at wide receiver, has to replace Missouri all-time leading receiver Justin Gage. Gage caught 82 passes for over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns in 2002. Outlaw was second on the team in receptions and yards receiving but had only 46 catches and 552 yards receiving.

While Outlaw's numbers last season did not match those of Gage, they were impressive for a player who spent his first two seasons at Missouri under center. If Outlaw gains over 500 yards again this season he will become the only player in school-history to pass for 1,000 yards and have 1,000 yards receiving.

Outlaw likely will line up as Smith's top target this season, and it's not out of the question he could blossom into a 1,000 yard receiver.