Republished from the Jefferson City News Tribune

The Missouri football team released its depth chart Monday for the Tigers’ season-opening game against South Dakota State on Saturday.

One of the most notable parts of the chart? Redshirt sophomore Eddie Printz backing up Maty Mauk at the quarterback position. Junior Corbin Berkstresser had been battling Printz for the spot during camp.

Printz, out of Lassiter High School in Marietta, Ga., was named the 32nd-best pro-style quarterback nationwide as a recruit. He passed for 2,959 yards his senior year of high school and 3,393 as a junior.

Berkstresser filled in for an injured James Franklin in 2012, totaling 1,059 yards on 88-of-177 passing. He threw five touchdowns to seven interceptions. Last season, with Mauk serving as Franklin’s backup, Berkstresser only threw one pass, which fell incomplete.

Backup quarterbacks have thrown for more than 125 passes each of the past two seasons at Missouri, and past quarterbacks such as Franklin, Blaine Gabbert and Chase Daniel were occasionally utilized in the offense as specialty players, even when the starter was healthy.

Also worth noting on the depth chart is the listing of Marcus Murphy at tailback. Though not surprising, Murphy got significant time at receiver in camp and is expected to spend time at both positions this season because of big losses at receiver. Murphy is listed as the punt returner and backup kick returner behind Ian Simon, and he shares the starting tailback with junior Russell Hansbrough.

Defensive tackles Matt Hoch and Harold Brantley are the only other “either, or” starters listed. Hoch missed time in practice with a pectoral injury.

Junior Taylor Chappell is listed as Connor McGovern’s backup at right tackle. Chappell impressed as a starter in camp when McGovern was out with a pectoral injury and has been referred to as almost a sixth starter.

There are five true freshmen on the 62-man depth chart: third-string receivers Lawrence Lee and Nate Brown, third-string cornerback Logan Cheadle, third-string free safety Thomas Wilson and fourth-string tailback Ish Witter. Witter and fellow freshman tailback Trevon Walters played significant time in scrimmages, but Walters did not make the depth chart. Walk-on Tyler Hunt of Westran High School backs up Witter and was added as a scholarship player last week.

Tailback Morgan Steward is listed as “doubtful” for Saturday, and is the only player categorized as injured on the depth chart. Steward missed significant time in camp with a hip injury.

III

The football team is hosting a sneak peek for the additions to Memorial Stadium at 6:30 p.m. today.

Fans will be able to see the new east-side additions like the upper deck and the Columns Club as well as Truman’s Terrace, a new tailgating area.

Original: http://www.newstribune.com/news/2014/aug/25/mu-sets-depth-chart-season-opener/