Is Drew Pyne Missouri's Next Quarterback?

Intro a former Notre Dame quarterback reportedly is visiting Missouri this weekend and on paper Drew Pine really could be just what the doctor ordered for the Tigers so let's talk about him and some hoops too coming up right now on locked on missou you are locked on missou your daily podcast on the Missouri Tigers part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day [Music] hey all you true Sons and Daughters I'm John Miller your mou mafioso and the central scrutinizer of Missouri Tigers football and basketball and on today's program I want to talk about another Porter possibly being in the fold with Missouri Bass basketball and also I've got my own idea about a person in a lower level of basketball the tiger should Target this off season in my opinion but also I want to tell you all this episode is brought to you by Nissan are you the kind of driver that likes to push things a little further ever wonder what Adventure could be around the next Corner take the Nissan Rogue Nissan Pathfinder or Nissan Armada and go find your Next Big Adventure check them all out today at nissanusa.com and as I said Drew Pine Drew Pyne former Notre Dame quarterback and by the way most recently at Arizona State as well reportedly visiting Colombia this past weekend I don't know if that visit is still go ongoing here as we speak on Sunday morning or not but certainly an interesting guy here Pine started 10 games for the Fighting Irish in 2022 winning eight of those those 10 starts by the way Notre Dame did 22 touchdowns and six interceptions so at first glance wow this guy could be our backup quarterback that's a pretty pretty high level but you see why he's in the portal once again because well after transferring from not Dame this past season at Arizona State Pine was beaten out by a freshman at quarterback for a few games he bounced around a little bit in and out of the starting lineups obviously last season wasn't what he was looking for so he entered the portal again this past December for a couple weeks though oddly withdrew evidently he actually went back to Notre Dame in order to finish up some schoolwork so EV evidently fourstar Prospect out of high school by the way 6'1 about 200 lb has as many as three years of Eligibility left due to injuries I'm told so again Drew Pine I I think as far as realistically who were the tiger is going to get in the transfer portal I think this is this is the mold I think this is the type of player that you're looking for a guy who obviously has some ability maybe some untapped ability at this point maybe he just had a rough 2023 for whatever reason but obviously you're not going to get a starting SEC caliber quarterback in the transfer portal those guys are going to go somewhere that they can start so I just think realistically if Missouri indeed does get Drew Pine I think that's about as good as you could have expected Missouri to get what is certain somebody who's certainly going to be a backup quarterback barring injury for Brady cook in 2024 but hey come 2025 who is going to be the next Missouri quarterback that season the starter is very very much in question at this point with of course Sam Horn coming off Tommy John surgery he's never really played what do what do we even have in Sam Horn plus obviously several other players like Jabari Johnson have chosen to transfer so right now it's just Brady cook and Aiden Glover the true freshman coming in this season out of the state of Tennessee somebody who just about everybody admits is a developmental quarterback at this point so clearly if you're Eli dritz and the Tigers you need a veteran presence there in your quarterback room it can't just be Brady cook and some kid who just went to prom now along with Drew Pine there were High School Prospects tons of well I should say dozens of big-time High School football prospects that were in town this past weekend as well including guys I've brought up on the show recently like Jackson canwell of course son of Christian canwell former missou shot putter and silver medalist in the 2008 Olympics also Alabama wide receiver Dylan Alfred who I brought up on the previous show is in town as well along with a couple instate guys least some at North North receiver Isaiah mosy and also Jack Lang or long is it Lang or long somebody helped me out with that big old offensive tackle Prospect out of the state of Missouri but regardless it just seems like Missouri is really in on some high high level guys and that's something drink witz is obviously done quite well on is getting a high level of of prospects out of high school it seems like we might even be leveling up a little bit more after obviously a big time 2023 season and a pretty dog on good nil infrastructure compared to the rest some of the rest of the country too now speaking of 2024 well actually I was recently last week I believe on Wednesday I was on that edition of the locked on college football show talking about Missouri of course and I was asked what my biggest concern was for this upcoming season if you listened to me a lot if you're an everyday or you probably wouldn't be surprised that I said it was corner I just think Chris Abrams drain inis rraw doesn't get much better than that actually Georgia receiver lad makoni during the combine process even brought up like hey he was asked like hey what was your toughest matchup last year he said the two guys from Missouri so to my point I just think that that's that's going to be easier said than done so far it look sounds like dren Norwood is having a good camp he had a really good 2023 as well so that's a good start also of course Tor on Pride former Clemson Tiger now a Missouri Tiger he was East St Louis guy that Missouri was on really hard in high school well now Pride a Missouri Tiger so hopefully you know I'm not expecting the same level of production from that position as the last couple years I'm really not but if we can even get 75% of it that'd be a huge Victory now I did say corner on the show but really you could definitely say defensive line in general the more I look at it too just from the amount of bodies and productive players that Missouri has lost from this past season of course Johnny Walker the Cotton Bowl MVP he's back Christian Williams on the inside is back but other than Christian you're missing three of your top defensive tackles from last season also of course Darius Robinson a potential firstr NFL draft pick heck maybe even the Chiefs will give Darius Robinson a look I could see that happening but obviously there's some real productive players missing there but it does seem like the early returns at least if you believe new defensive coordinator Cory baton and and the rest of the staff seems like darus Smith the Georgia transfer Zion young the Michigan State transfer seems like the early Returns on them are pretty encouraging so overall I still think it's Corner that's my biggest concern about this Missouri defense coming up but as I two Spence are the host of locked on college football this Missouri offense really should be one of the elite units in the entire country there's not much I'm worried about there and on the basketball side of things fair to say everyone expects Missouri to be quite active when the transfer portal opens up in about eight days or so well somebody is already planning on entering the transfer portal according to Onre Sports Javon Porter tells on three that he play to enter the transfer portal in about a week or so and at this point from what everything I've heard I'd almost be surprised if he doesn't end up at Missouri at this point so let's talk more about Javon Porter coming up here in just a little bit but first let's talk about Nissan because are you the kind of driver that likes to push things a little further ever wonder what Adventure could be around the next Corner our friends at Nissan have a lineup of SUVs with the capabilities to take your adventure to the next level the 2024 Nissan Rogue is the perfect midsize crossover for your next adventure gone are the days of connecting your phone Google Assistant Google Maps and Google Play Store are built right in to the 12.3 in HD touchscreen infotainment system and the 2024 Nissan Armada will change what you expect from a full size SUV picture a rugged 4x4 that can seat up to eight In First Class luxury and style take the Nissan Rogue Nissan Pathfinder or Nissan Armada and go find your next big adventure shop nissanusa.com again it's not official yet the portal Javon Porter doesn't open up until after selection Sunday and about 8 days but Javon Porter says he's entering the portal and by God I believe him but seriously Javon Porter what type of player would Missouri possibly get here and again just from some people I talked to apparently Javon Porter has been in touch with Missouri already maybe through some back channeling that type of deal just long story short at this point as we sit here right now on Sunday morning I'd be surprised if Javon Porter isn't a Missouri Tiger next year here so potentially what type of player would Missouri be getting here well obviously at 6'1 220 pounds he's a skilled guy sounds a lot like his brothers a little bit right now according to Sam Vini who's who follows the draft covers the draft for the athletic according to him he says definitely a high major every bit as modern a skill set as you'd expect from someone in the Porter Family more jonte than Michael as he's a big but Javon Porter is a big summer of development and the right transfer location away from being a real 2025 draft prospect so clearly the skill set is there and you know one of the reasons Javon Porter ended up at Pepperdine is not so much skill level of course Lorenzo RAR you might remember Michael was originally going to play for Lorenzo Roar in Washington before well he lost his job this was a good this was a good thing for Missouri ladies and gentlemen obviously the porter experience didn't work out how we all wanted but think back this was quite the coup well once again Lorenzo RAR probably going to be on his way out of Pepperdine so Javon on his way out as well and this season you know what if you just look at the numbers you're going to be maybe a slightly bit disappointed because from his freshman season to his sophomore season this past year at Pepperdine well Porter's rebounding numbers particularly his defensive rebounding numbers really really went down went off a cliff really from 18% to 133% this year is percentage of rebounds grabbed their defensively that's not great it really isn't he he needs to rebound better than that for Missouri I will say that and also just a quick look at his three-point shooting conference only during conference play as a freshman hit 36% of his three-pointers well that was down 10% to 26% and by the way that's 27% for all play so you know part of that though you look at the last four or five games for Porter and he was a free throw shooting machine he had 12 11 and 11 free throw attempts in three of the last four games for Pepperdine what that tells me is maybe they're putting a little bit too much on Porter's plate you know maybe he'll look a little bit better with hopefully what is an improved Missouri offensive Squad next season and quite honestly I think it's 6' 11 Porter probably better learn to be a center he probably better learn to be a defensive rebounder that's the one thing I will say that concerns me maybe just a tiny bit at first glance but the thing is with the three-point shooting part that actually doesn't concern me all that much I think the skill set is there and again if he's not the number onea option next season which I I don't expect that he will be I think you'll see a higher quality of shot there you won't have to take as many shots either I think you'll see more of them go in and plus say what you will about Dennis Gates he's proven he can take mediocre three-point Shooters really frankly below average to poor three-point Shooters like Shawn East and like Kobe Brown and turn them into Elite three-point Shooters in just one off season so there is definitely a chance that Porter's game takes a big step next season with Dennis Gates and the Tigers rebounding wise well there's not a lot of indication that this staff emphasizes or teaches rebounding in particular but you know what that is one thing on paper that would worry me a little bit about Porter and now it's time for some wild Jonathan Mogbo speculation on my part because I'm going to bring up a a young man here who has not announced that he's entering the portal I have no indic ations that that he's going to be in the portal un the UN except for that he's been a pretty well-traveled guy already now I'm not expecting Missouri to unearth the next Dalton connect the former Northern Colorado player who is blowing up college basketball at Tennessee this year but to me Jonathan mogbo from San Francisco is somebody that Dennis Gates and his Squad should really look at hard because even though he's at 6 9 225 lbs not the prototypical size for a center and also he's not a three-point shooter either at all he's taken two in his division one career just two three-pointers in two seasons so he doesn't necessarily fit that Dennis Gates mold but here's what he is if he can play the five he's a guy who's the best rebounder in the West Coast Conference the fifth the fifth most efficient scorer in that league as well and it's an in League by the way with Gonzaga St Mary and well frankly not much else because San Francisco MBO Squad is the clear third banana in that conference this season for example I brought up Javon Porter while his Pepperdine Squad quite a bit worse on paper than Missouri for example in fact so is the rest of the conference outside of that top three and Santa Clara but the thing is San Francisco is much better than Missouri this year so you'd think maybe you'd think well why would he go to a worse Squad well the thing is MBO again he has been well traveled played at several several other schools junior colleges also Missouri State a year before being in San Francisco so could he be ready to make the move back to the beautiful state of Missouri I'm not really sure it's just again the point in bringing up MBO here is there still are interesting guys who are at just a slightly lower level of play that could be interested in making the move to the secc so the idea that Missouri can't have a big turnaround next year I think is shortsighted doesn't mean it's guaranteed by any means clearly this past season showed that hitting it in the portal isn't always simple so hopefully Missouri's going to Missouri's going to need to hit the portal hard and hit it well this off season no doubt about that and of course as you can tell I've Missouri Basketball been talking about the future of Missouri basketball before I get to the present because the present is just that depressing the Tigers pulled it off they're 0 and 18 in the regular season in the SEC I would not have thought that was possible at the beginning of the Season quite literally I'd be going that is not possible we're not going to go 0 and 18 but here we are and as Drew King said after the game defensively in the second half quote they legitimately made LSU look like the Harlem Globe Trotters what more do you need to say and over and over again that happened and you know on on offense under Gates people want to you know some people say hey the offense hasn't been good this year you're right you're 100% right the offense has been bad this season really bad I agree with you but last season still counts and last season the Tigers had the ninth best offense in the country which was which was the second best offense of the 25 years of the postn norm Stewart era however this year we're 130th that is a massive massive drop off offensively obviously we cannot have a repeat of that but you know what did happen again poorest defense because Missouri was 180th last year in defensive efficiency well they're 189 this year so basically just as every bit as bad as they were last year on defense now this year I will say with the the changing of of how college basketball is officiated part of missou not being able to defend not being able to defend without fouling is the way the game is called there were several cases yesterday where I'm just really not sure what our Defender is supposed to do for instance Tamar Bates there's a fast break a guy for LSU is kening down the Lane at full speed baates can't you basically cannot take a charge anymore that's not an option so we have a bunch of guys that are jumping straight up in the air and to me Bates did jump straight up with his with his arms in the air but again it just seems like when the offensive player these days well when they try to draw contact they get the benefit of the doubt but honestly though it's just the defensive principles for Missouri need a total total rethinking because frankly I I just don't know what we're doing defensively I'll say it before I've said it again we're too aggressive defensively for a team that doesn't have the the requisite athleticism to make up for being out of position Missouri's just constantly out of position and there's really nothing they can do to make up for that when that happens and you know what honestly FanDuel Missouri could have won that basketball game yesterday but really Dennis Gates coach that game like he didn't really care if they won or not I think he was more interested in actually making a point to at least Aiden Shaw and maybe some other guys on the roster too because once again I just thought his substitutions yesterday I I thought it it's been bizarre most of the Season yesterday I just thought his strategy made absolutely no sense in one way in particular so let's talk about Missouri's loss to LSU coming up here in just a little bit but first let's talk about FanDuel you got to get buckets with your first bet on FanDuel America's number one sports book because right now new customers get 15 in bonus Bets with any winning $5 bet that's A50 bucks if your team wins bet on all your favorite NBA players and teams with quick bets live same game parlays exclusive props and more just visit fanduel.com / locked on and shoot your shot it's FanDuel official sports book partner of the NBA at one point in the second half Dennis Gates Offense against LSU Missouri LED 45- 38 and then seemingly just got stuck on that 45 number forever they basically scored five points in about 12 minutes and then hilariously in the last two minutes of the ball game game they score 20 points when it doesn't matter really at all and I'll give the Tigers credit I'll give Dennis Gates credit this team is still playing hard and and all that good stuff they're giving the effort for as much of an absolute disaster of a season this has been but I'll give Dennis Gates credit for that but for all the people who want me to criticize Dennis Gates offense a little bit more this season well okay I've got some criticisms for you because during that scoring drought you know one of the big problems was Missouri was just running bad offense for example when you put mour MAAC in the ball game listen he cannot be a fixture of the offense and you're probably saying well did maor even he took one shot how he a fixture of the offense what I'm saying is during this run here there was two or three possessions in a row that basically were styed or ended in a turnover because you cannot set High screens with mabor maach why because he's not a threat to score the basketball or even do anything with it positive once he has it in his hand so what do you do if you're LSU and maor MAAC sets a high screen you double team it it's the simplest basketball in the world because hey if I'm guarding maor MAAC 25 fet from the basket he couldn't be less of a threat to score and and quite honestly and again I have no desire to pick on mabor maach whatsoever by by all accounts a great kid and by the way he's a walk-on he's not supposed to be playing this much but to me if you're Dennis Gates playing him over Aiden Shaw which he did for much of the second half is Criminal how do you do that I understand that Shaw has not developed offensively like we would have wanted this year but frankly a lot of that is on Gates that's a failure his lack of development offensively has been a failure but regardless he's certainly more of an offensive player than maach just his leaping ability alone his athleticism alone is so much more of a problem frankly on both ends of the court because while maach tries hard he's also just so he's just slow he's a step slow and he's a bull in a china shop he can't really defend without fouling often either so again I just don't want to damn I don't want a damn maor maach here that's not really the point the point is is I just don't see how Dennis Gates is playing him over Aiden Shaw because at least when Aiden Shaw hit sets a high screen he can dive to the basket and he's a threat for a lob maak is a threat for nothing to be brutally honest and you know what as great of a Shawn East Offense scorer as Shawn East has been this season man he still just throws some absolutely wild passes that are going to no one second only to haz's carolo Martin and honestly that may have been the worst three onone I've ever seen in the history of basketball again three onone folks if it's three-on-one or three on two get the ball the middle of the court if it's two onone then spread out that's your basic fundamentals there and yet hardly anyone in modern college basketball can seem to figure that out a huge pet peeve of mine sha East goes three onone just keeps the ball on the wing listen Missouri had the we had the formation right two guys spread out one in the middle unfortunately East never got the ball the middle instead threw an utterly bizarre lob pass over Tamar bat's head and out of bounds he had seven turnovers in the ball game although I'll give him a pass on that last one and say six that was desperation moment still felt like all six were crucial turnovers them led directly to LSU buckets frankly if you're playing two lead guards like that in honor and East you shouldn't throw it away that much you just shouldn't and on that final play you know it doesn't matter at all Missouri was trailing by either four or five they were going to win anyway but let's not have Shawn East inbound the ball in an important spot take one turnover you know again take that one turnover away it doesn't really matter that was desperation moment but again you're playing two lead guards like that oh man it's tough when when Nick honor isn't he's not going to be your lead ball handler he's not your point guard essentially he's basically an offguard for all intents and purposes right now so he's not going to handle the ball and he's going to go two for 13 from the floor and he's certainly not a defensive player at his size either oh boy it's just tough to overcome that those particular faults there and you know one thing it was nice to see Trent Pierce get in and be fairly productive in his time nice to see him get a dunk for his first shot something easy for a change that was his first points since January 20th he did eventually hit a three-pointer later in the game and really it was his rebounding in the first half that I thought made a big difference I kind of liked the look with him and Noah Carter playing together offensively it seemed like that unit should be able to score they started the second half but you know didn't really get us going offensively that Carter Pierce combination but I still think that pierce will be better next season but realistically is there any single player on this roster who you absolutely have to have back next year you might be saying Tomar Bates hey I would absolutely take Bates back but you know Bates was not nearly the player that he was say the first half the SEC season versus the second half again context is king So obviously he was probably having to take on a bigger load than he ideally would have similar to the argument I'm making about Javon Porter at Pepperdine so again with better players around him I I think he can be much more efficient next season although overall for the season he was incredibly efficient as a scorer I'm just saying it seemed like last 10 games or so it just felt like you know maybe Bates had been worn down a little bit by having to carry such a huge percentage of the offensive load for Missouri and opponents were able to adjust maybe to him a little bit more but regardless obviously Bates had a good season for Missouri sha East had a great season for Missouri but everything else kind of went off the rails unfortunately so you could be looking at a real hard reset of this entire roster coming up this off season but hey hopefully you won't hit the reset button on locked on missou thanks for being patient with me didn't get out of show on Friday or Saturday frankly I think I got food poisoning I I think that's what happened I was laid up pretty hard for about 24 hours or so so I appreciate you all being patient feeling better now everything's all good we are going to survive and be back hard this week for more additions of locked on maou