Mizzou football will play in the Texas Bowl on Wednesday and many Tiger fans are wondering if this could be quarterback Drew Lock’s final game with Missouri.
If Drew Lock listens to the advice that the NFL draft advisory board gave him, then he should be returning to Columbia in 2018. According to Aaron Reiss on Twitter, the board informed Lock that he should stay at MU for his senior season.
Reiss also tweeted that the board gives three grades to players debating whether they should enter the draft or not. Those grades are first round, second, or returning to school. Lock got the third grade, which shows that experts don’t see him getting selected in a high round.
While this isn’t necessarily surprising, it’s good to know, as now Mizzou football will likely have an idea of what their offense will look like in 2018. Lock has had a nice junior season, but many still thought him returning to school would be the best idea for the quarterback.
Lock says he’s still considering going to the NFL based on “other things” he’s heard.
— Aaron Reiss (@aaronjreiss) December 26, 2017
The board only gives three grades: first round, second round, or go back to school.
Lock threw for just shy of 3,700 yards in 12 games this year for MU with 43 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also rushed for 111 yards and a score.
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The beginning of the season was rough for Lock and the Tigers, but the team rebounded nicely and rattled off six straight wins to close out the year. That effort was enough to get Missouri into a bowl game and a date with the Texas Longhorns (former Big 12 rival) in the Texas Bowl.
Reiss did note in his second tweet that Lock is still contemplating going pro, so Mizzou fans should be crossing their fingers that he listens to the draft board’s advice and returns to school. The Tigers were on the verge of something special this past season, but their slow start prevented that from taking flight.
Drew Lock could very well make Missouri a legitimate force to be reckoned with in the SEC East next year. The Tigers haven’t put up much of a fight in their conference these last two years, but 2018 could be when fans see all of that change.
The Tigers’ schedule in 2018 is tough with road games against Alabama and South Carolina and a home match versus the Georgia Bulldogs. Lock would be a huge asset to have during those games.
While there’s still quite a bit of time between now and the 2018 NFL Draft, Mizzou football fans are desperately hoping that Drew Lock stays in school. He could be the difference maker between this team being mediocre and the Tigers making some noise in the SEC next year.