Projecting Mizzou football's first offensive depth chart of 2023

With SEC Media Days in the rearview, talkin' season is all but over and actual football is around the corner. As a part of that, Missouri needs to configure its depth chart for the 2023 season.
Here's how we project Missouri's first offensive depth chart will look heading into the start of camp.
Quarterback
Brady Cook
Sam Horn/Jake Garcia
Dylan Liable
Gabarri Johnson
The most important position in sports will have competition again this summer leading into the 2023 season. Last year, Cook, Jack Abraham and Tyler Macon competed for the starting spot. This year will see a similar battle, except Horn is a major player in the QB1 race and Garcia is an interesting third competitor.
Cook earns the edge due to Drinkwitz noting how he's entering the preseason camp getting the first shot at first-team reps. He said the staff will take as much time as it needs to name an official starter and even alluded to playing multiple quarterbacks in week one or week two if needed.
Drinkwitz has also mentioned in the past he likes having two quarterbacks share the backup role, as one might be better suited to play against a certain team than the other.
Running Back
Cody Schrader/Nate Peat
Tavorus Jones
Jamal Roberts
This position thinned out a bit with the departures of Elijah Young, Taj Butts and BJ Harris, but there's still returning experience and promising young players that could see time this season.
Peat and Schrader, two of MU's leading rushers, return to give the Tigers a one-two punch again behind a revamped offensive line. Peat's breakaway speed compliments Schrader's rugged running, but Jones and Roberts are waiting in the wings.
Roberts is a true freshman, but with Harris, Young and Butts departed there's a depth role open for him on special teams as a cover man or even in the return game. Jones saw limited action last season, and is in line for a larger role behind Peat and Schrader.
Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden (3) sheds off an Abilene Christian defender during a game against Abilene Christian on Sept. 17, 2022 at Faurot Field in Columbia.
Wide Receiver
Z-Receiver
Mookie Cooper
Dannis Jackson
X-Receiver
Theo Wease
Demaryius Houston
Slot Receiver
Luther Burden
Mekhi Miller
The receiver position should have plenty of familiar names, especially with Cooper and Burden returning. However, Burden is moving over to the slot where Dominic Lovett was last fall. That will put Burden in different types of plays that can suit his playmaking ability.
Drinkwitz slotted Wease into the X-receiver position, and Cooper logically fits on the other side at the Z-receiver position. Cooper brings speed and shiftiness to the outside, and Wease brings the size.
This is the deepest position Missouri has and perhaps the most talented. Expecting big years from Burden as he assumes the slot position
Missouri receiver Mookie Cooper (5) stands after making a play against Arkansas on Nov. 25, 2022, in Columbia, Mo.
Tight End
Tyler Stephens OR Ryan Hoerstkamp
Brett Norfleet OR Max Wishner
This position was troublesome for MU last season. A consistent and productive starter never emerged, but now an influx of youth is present alongside two players with past experience.
Norfleet has the size and athleticism to rise up the depth chart through camp and the first few games. However, Stephens and Hoerstkamp were present last season and could find themselves with more playing time.
Offensive Line
Right Tackle
Marcellus Johnson
MaKyi Lee
Right Guard
Armand Membou
Mitchell Walters
Center
Cam'Ron Johnson
Bence Polgar/Connor Tollison
Left Guard
Xavier Delgado
EJ Ndoma-Ogar
Left Tackle
Javon Foster
Valen Ericksen
You can't deny the offensive line is better than where it was last season. Cam'Ron and Marcellus Johnson transfer in and pair with Armand Membou to reshape the middle and right side of the line.
On the left, Foster is a lock on the blind side. The preseason All-SEC second-team tackle will pair with Delgado on the left side, unless Ndoma-Ogar beats him out during camp.
The newcomers, including first-year coach Brandon Jones, will offer a chance for the offensive line to have a breath of fresh air as well as a fresh start. Don't be surprised if players MaKyi Lee and Valen Ericksen see playing time, too, as either swing tackles or in different packages.
This is the unit that has the most to prove after a disappointing 2022 season where injuries and struggles put them in the spotlight for the wrong reasons. The 2023 season gives them the chance to make up for those struggles.