The future backfield of the Missouri Tigers for the next three seasons shows a lot of promise. Despite a 63-37 loss at Tennessee on Saturday, this may be a game Mizzou fans look back on as the game that really put Damarea Crockett on the map.
The true freshman from Little Rock, Ark. rushed for a record 225 yards (most ever by a freshman) and set the school record for rushing yards in a season by a freshman (1,062), surpassing the mark set by quarterback Brad Smith.
It wasn’t just Crockett. Mizzou racked up a season-high 420 yards on the ground, the most by a Mizzou team against an FBS team since 2003 against Texas Tech (469), in the loss.
The Tigers (3-8, 1-6 SEC) gained 740 yards of total offense, a record vs. an FBS opponent and the most ever allowed by a Tennessee opponent.
The problem was that there were too many mistakes. Dropped passes, missed tackles and turnovers.
Vols QB Joshua Dobbs threw for 223 yards with two touchdown passes. He rushed for a career-high 190 yards on just 10 carries. Tennessee’s John Kelly rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown. Alvin Kamara ran for 55 yards and two scores.
Drew Lock was picked off twice, once for a pick six. J’Mon Moore fumbled into the endzone for a touchback trying to stretch for the line after a long completion.
While the Tigers rushed for 6.3 yards per play, Tennessee was more impressive gaining 8.6 yards per rush.