Prized freshman uses his redshirt season to switch positions

~ Keck makes move from linebacker to defensive end.

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Missouri football team has devoted much of its first pre-bowl practices to freshmen and non-starters, which means Michael Keck has seen plenty of action the last three days.

Keck, the crown jewel in Missouri's 2007 recruiting class, recently moved from outside linebacker to defensive end. As No. 7 Missouri (11-2) prepares to face No. 25 Arkansas (8-4) in the Jan. 1 Cotton Bowl, Keck has spent the first three December practices putting his hand on the ground and rushing the quarterback.

"I feel better. I feel a little more free," Keck said after Monday's practice, Missouri's third of seven in Columbia before the team leaves town for Dallas.

"I don't have to think as much and I can just go play football. There was just too much thinking for me at linebacker, though. I'm not that smart."

Last January, he enrolled at Missouri a semester ahead of schedule while the rest of his graduating class completed coursework at Harrisonville High School.

By the end of spring practices, Keck climbed to No. 2 on Missouri's depth chart at weakside linebacker, a spot behind starter Sean Weatherspoon. By August, though, Missouri had developed enough depth among the linebacker corps that Keck could afford to redshirt. In August, he underwent surgery on his right shoulder to repair an injury he suffered in last year's Class 3 state semifinal game. The procedure sidelined him for a few months.

"Part of me said, 'Dang it, I gotta sit,' " Keck said. "But at the same time, it was a whole other year to get ready. I want to do what's best for this team, and that's what they said this was. So, I'm down with it."

While five of his fellow true freshman teammates played this season, Keck spent the year adding to his waistline. When he first enrolled at Missouri, the 6-foot-5 freshman checked in at 200 pounds. On Monday, he said he's up to 230 with a goal of 240 or 245 by the 2008 season.

As a four-year starter in high school, Keck shifted between defensive end and outside linebacker and collected 30 sacks in his career. He hopes the extra weight will lead to that kind of production as a Big 12 pass-rusher going against 300-pound offensive linemen.

Missouri coaches have a perfect model for Keck: junior defensive end Stryker Sulak blossomed into a second-team all-conference player this season as the team's pass-rush specialist. Like Keck, Sulak is 6-5 and rangy with linebacker speed. Sulak ranked third in the Big 12 with six sacks.

"In high school he was an awesome pass-rusher, and we're starting to see that out here on the bag drills," Sulak said. "He's a young guy, and it's a fresh move, but I can see him being a great pass-rusher."

Missouri coach Gary Pinkel agrees. That's why he gave the position change his stamp of approval a few weeks ago when Keck requested the move.

"He'll get up to 250, and he'll be a guy that can run," Pinkel said. "He's got great foot speed. He's got a great motor. He's got a chance to be a really good player. Now, he's not there yet. He's not close to being there yet. But he'll get there, hopefully in a pretty quick amount of time."