Losing Evan Boehm, Connor McGovern, Mitch Hall and Taylor Chappell left a tough void for the 2016–17 Missouri offensive line. On Thursday, though, that void deepened as coach Barry Odom announced that junior guard Nate Crawford would be retiring due to medical reasons.
Crawford is a 6-foot-5 Pensacola, Florida, product who played in 11 games last year and was going to be Mizzou’s most experienced offensive lineman. But, after two back procedures — one in 2014 and another in the spring — Crawford made a decision that, for him, Odom says is for his best long-term.
Fortunately for the line, Memphis graduate transfer and Rock Bridge High School alum Michael Stannard’s name appeared on the roster on Thursday.