Missouri quarterback candidates battle in spring game

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- All eyes were on James Franklin and Tyler Gabbert heading into Missouri's spring game to see who would emerge as the leading candidate to replace likely first round NFL draft pick Blaine Gabbert at quarterback.

It's clear that the battle is just getting started after a windy Saturday in which both candidates struggled.

Franklin had the better day of the two, completing 13 of 21 passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns but was unable to move the offense for most of the afternoon. The highlight of his performance came on a scoring drive in which he went 5 of 7 for 52 yards that finished with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Gerau.

"Overall, I thought it went fairly well, but the wind was a little tough," Franklin said. "My main goal was to get positive yardage and move the offense, and I thought I could have done a better job of that today."

Tyler Gabbert was unable to generate momentum from the start and finished 8 of 22 for just 48 yards and the game's only interception. In his first four possessions at the helm, two resulted in three-and-outs and two ended abruptly with turnovers.

"The comfort level was just never really there today," Gabbert said. "I did some good things and some bad, but I definitely have a lot of improving to do."

Gabbert came in to the spring listed third on the depth chart but has ascended to the top after turning in strong performances in the spring scrimmages. He was 36 of 48 for 417 yards and a touchdown through his first two outings, which earned him the title of the team's most improved quarterback this spring.

"I just got more comfortable and got my feet wet and got a lot of reps in," Gabbert said. "As a whole, my goal was just to get better every day and I think I accomplished that."

On the defensive side, a Tigers secondary that must replace three starters from a season ago saw reserve safety Braylon Webb lead the team with seven tackles as well as projected starter E.J. Gaines turn in an interception to go along with two pass deflections.

"We have a lot of guys on the defensive line with several starters back, and I think we can be a real good defensive team," Tigers coach Gary Pinkel said. "We have a lot of things in place but have to play well consistently, and we have to have playmakers come out and make plays."

Whichever candidate wins the quarterback job outright will lead an offense that returns nine starters from a 10-win season a year ago. The Tigers welcome back four starting offensive linemen, a 1,000-yard receiver in T.J. Moe, a trio of tailbacks that combined for 1,376 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns as well as first team All-American tight end Michael Egnew.

The battle won't reach a conclusion until later this fall, but the coaching staff believes the offense will continue to produce at a high level no matter who calls the plays in the huddle.

"Whoever ends up being the guy out of the group, I'll think we'll be good at quarterback," Missouri offensive coordinator Dave Yost said. "We have enough guys around them to take pressure off them so they can go out and make plays."