Missouri Tigers: Help At Running Back Arrives
By Charles Lam
The Missouri Tigers received good news about running back depth. Nate Strong will be eligible to play right away this fall. This helps strengthen the running back core at Mizzou.
Previously, Nate Strong didn’t have the credits he needed to attend the Missouri Tigers football team during the fall semester. The earliest he would have been able to play for Mizzou was January 2017 during the beginning of the Spring semester. That would have cost him and the team another year until he could see live action. That’s all but changed now.
Here’s a tweet by Missouri Tigers beat reporter, Gabe DeArmond, confirming the news.
The Missouri Tigers will welcome a running back to the team with a lot of talent. Strong is the second best junior college running back and the 20th best running back in the nation according to 247 Sports. He received a 90/100 grade. This grade ranks Strong as a four-star player.
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He rushed for 102 yards on 15 attempts for Hinds Community College last year. Those aren’t the best of numbers but they are fine. He will continue to develop once he learns from Missouri’s coaching staff.
The Tigers did not run the ball well last season. The team rushed for 3.49 yards per carry best for 118 out of 128 teams last season. The Tigers were barely ahead of cross state rival, Kansas Jayhawks. Kansas ranked 126th on this list rushing for a pathetic 3.04 yards per carry.
It’s never good to be near a team who had no wins during the season. The Missouri Tigers are hoping Nate Strong and others will increase the yards per carry average a lot this season.
Here’s highlight’s of Nate Strong during his high school days in East St.Louis, Illinois.
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Strong’s running style is aggressive and physical. He has a nice combo of strength, size and speed. He also has awareness of the defense making the proper cuts to find the wholes created by the offensive line.
Strong will receive some of the back field work for Mizzou this fall. Fans should be excited to watch this man continue to develop. It will take time for him to get up to SEC division one speed but once he does watch out defenses everywhere.
Mizzou also added Oklahoma transfer Alex Ross to the team as well. Strong will be paired up with the senior running back this season. He also will join newcomer Damarea Crockett as well in the back field. Crockett signed with Mizzou over Boise State in February.
Next: Mizzou Football: Five Best Running Backs of All-Time
With all these new faces in black and gold, it seems as if new head coach Barry Odom is doing a fine job as Mizzou’s leader. Adding talented players like Nate Strong and Alex Ross to this team will help the Tigers improve this season. The season can’t start soon enough.