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The annual Braggin’ Rights game between No. 12 Missouri and No. 10 Illinois will be held this Saturday in St. Louis. Tip off is set for 6 p.m. E.T. and the game will be televised on ESPN2. This is the 32nd consecutive December meeting between the border state rivals. The match-up this season features two high powered offenses contending for a top ten ranking and a full year’s worth of bragging rights.

No. 10 Illinois is off to an impressive 12-0 start under new head coach John Groce. The Fighting Illini are led by guards Brandon Paul, D.J. Richardson, and Tracy Abrams. The trio are averaging 48 points combined per game for a team which has already defeated mid-major powers Butler and Gonzaga.

No. 12 Missouri is off to another good start under 2nd year head coach Frank Haith. The Tigers are lead by Preseason SEC Player of the Year Phil Pressey along with senior big men Laurence Bowers and Alex Oriakhi. The Tigers’ lineup just got deeper with highly touted sophomore transfer Jabari Brown becoming eligible after the fall semester. Brown made his debut Monday, scoring 12 points off the bench in the 102-51 win over South Carolina St.

3 Keys For Illinois

1. Tempo – Illinois does not have the size Missouri does in the low post. Paul, Richardson, and Abrams need to push the tempo as much as possible in order to take Bowers and Oriakhi out of the paint.

2. Get To The Rim – The Illini could get in trouble if they continuously settle for long range shots with Missouri’s low-post presence. They need to drive to the basket, create open opportunities, and draw fouls on the bigs.

3. Turnovers – Guards on both sides love to take the ball away and get out on the fastbreak. Whoever wins the turnover battle likely wins the game – very simple.

3 Keys For Missouri

1. Feed The Big Men – Missouri must take advantage of the size/experience the Tigers possess over Illinois. PG Phil Pressey needs to run an efficient half court offense and get the big men going early and often.

2. Chemistry – The Tigers have five transfers and two freshmen, all of whom have earned significant playing time this season. Haith will need to find the right combinations on the floor to counter the Illini’s potent back court. A more permanent rotation may start to take shape after Saturday.

3. Smart Decisions – The Tigers so successful last season because they were incredibly unselfish. They need to get back to their old ways. All of the Missouri guards are responsible for taking smart shots, making the extra pass and feeding the low-post.

Prediction:

Missouri wins its fourth consecutive Braggin Rights game in an entertaining fashion, with a 78-75 victory over the Fighting Illini. Bowers goes for 21 pts and nine rebounds for Mizzou, while the Illini’s Paul leads all scorers with 26. 

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Sheldon Richardson: The strong defensive play started up front (Could you imagine if Aldon Smith stayed for his last two years?), led by the All-American play of the RS junior. It was a consensus thought by Mizzou fans that Richardson had the potential to be a game-changing player, but no one expected the Juco transfer to have the year that he did.

Richardson led all D-linemen in tackles and finished 3rd on the team with 75 total (39 solo), second in sacks with four, and tied for the team lead with 10.5 TFL. Richardson also added three FF, two FR, and lead the team in QB hurries with seven. There is no doubt about it, Richardson was the defensive MVP if not the entire team’s MVP. As I wrote in a previous article, Richardson will likely be a mid-first round pick in next years draft. Mizzou announced on Friday, that he will forgo his final season for the NFL.

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Kony Ealy: A RS sophomore defensive end, Ealy was the second most impressive player on the D-line this year. Ealy started the season as a backup but showcased tremendous pass rushing ability and ended up starting 10 out of 12 games for the Tigers.

Ealy finished the season with 37 tackles, 10 TFL 5 QBH, and 3.5 Sacks in limited snaps. Ealy is another guy I praised in my draft article as one of Mizzou’s top NFL prospects. Expect him to be an absolute force next season.

Michael Sam: A RS junior defensive end, Sam led all Tigers with 4.5 sacks, in a limited role as well. Sam beat out senior Brad Madison, who many expected to have a big year, for a starting job towards the middle of the season.

Sam proved to be a quality speed pass rusher, who should retain his starting job next season.

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Matt Hoch: A RS sophomore nose guard, Hoch started all 12 games for the Tigers and recorded 36 tackles, 4.5 TFL, and two sacks. Hoch was also third on the team with five QBH. Expect Hoch to be the most productive interior lineman on the 2013 Tigers.

Mizzou will also say goodbye to Senior D-linemen Brad Madison and Jimmy Burge. Madison’s career has been up and down at Missouri but his experienced play will definitely be missed. Madison will be remembered for his 2010 season, when he recorded 7.5 sacks. Jimmy Burge has been a quality reserve player in his time at Missouri, Burge playing in at least 10 games a season for the Tigers over the last three seasons.

Final Grade: B The Mizzou defense gave up an average of 149 rushing yards a game, which was 49th best in the country. The passing defense was a little bit worse, but overall this was a middle of the pack defense. The defense starts up front, whether it be getting pressure on the QB or stopping the run, the D-line did an adequate but not exceptional job in both areas. Richardson’s suspension against Syracuse and big runs hurt their final grade.

Next Season Outlook:

Young players who will have a bigger role on the defensive line next year are RS freshman DE Shane Ray and RS sophomore DT Lucas Vincent, as both contributed to this year’s team as backups. Ray is likely to backup Ealy and Sam at both end positions and Vincent will likely take the starting job of Richardson.

JordanLynchFor6/NorthernIllinoisUniversity

Should he be in Heisman talks?

The name Jordan Lynch might not ring a bell to the average NCAA football fan – well at least not yet. Tonight at 9 p.m. EST, ESPN2 viewers will get a chance to watch one of the most electrifying and productive dual-threat quarterbacks in all of college football this season, when Lynch and the Northern Illinois Huskies (9-1, 6-0 MAC) take on the Toledo Rockets (8-2, 5-1 MAC) in Dekalb, Illinois.

If you’re looking for Jordan Lynch’s name on the experts Heisman lists, you’re probably not going to find it there right now. Where you will find his name is near the top of several offensive categories in the NCAA. Lynch’s 3,517 total yards rank him third in the nation among all FBS players; he also leads all FBS QB’s in rushing with 1,342 yards, to go along with 35 touchdowns (19 pass 16 rush) and only three interceptions. To put those numbers into context, that’s more total yards and touchdowns than Johnny Manziel, Collin Klein, Braxton Miller, Marcus Mariota, etc. On the ground, Lynch has run the ball 185 times while averaging 7.3 yards a carry. The NCAA rushing leader, Nevada’s Stefphon Jefferson, has ran the ball 290 times for 1,436 yards. The point is, Lynch’s numbers can stack up with just about anyone in the country.

Lynch’s Heisman candidacy depends on his team’s and conference’s success as much as his own individual performance. The MAC currently has six teams with at least seven wins – the only other conference that can boast that sort of success is the SEC. Adding on, only the PAC-12 and SEC have more bowl eligible teams so far than the MAC, with seven teams apiece. I don’t think anyone can argue that the MAC has the talent of the BCS conferences, which does dim his Heisman chances but, I do think you can argue that he means as much to his team’s success as the players I mentioned earlier. If the Huskies defeat Toledo on Wednesday night, they will clinch the MAC and most likely be headed back to the GoDaddy.Com Bowl. NIU received 77 votes for the AP Poll this week, so a win here could boost the Huskies into the Top 25 heading into bowl season. With no clear-cut Heisman favorite and the success of NIU and the rest of the MAC, Lynch should at least be in the conversation. Wednesday night, college football fans can put a face on those incredible numbers as Lynch continues a record-breaking season for the Huskies.

Northern Illinois recently launched a Heisman campaign for Lynch. Officials at the school have set up the Facebook page Jordan Lynch For 6 as well as the Twitter hashtag #VoteLynch to gain more local and national exposure.

College Spun/Nate Jacobson

Who will prevail?

Missouri travels to Knoxville this weekend to take on the Volunteers in what should be an interesting match-up. The Tigers (4-5, 1-4 SEC) are looking to get back to .500 after a heartbreaking loss to Florida in The Swamp. Tennessee (4-5, 0-5 SEC) is looking for its first SEC victory after an explosive outing by its offense against Troy.

The key to this game will be how Missouri handles Tyler Bray and the Volunteer offense, which is 12th in the nation in passing yards a game. Stopping Tennessee’s rushing attack is just as important. Tennessee likes to use a lot of play-action to free up Justin Hunter and Cordarrelle Patterson down field. Both WR’s are big play makers for this offense, and the task for the Missouri defense is to keep the ball out of their hands as much as possible.

Tennessee’s offensive line has done a tremendous job of protecting Bray, as he’s only been sacked four times this season. When he has time to sit in the pocket, he has been able to torch secondaries. Missouri’s defense has been lead by the All-American type-play of DT Sheldon Richardson and strong play out of the rest of the D-line. Their big task this weekend will be to get to Bray early and often. If they’re able to disrupt his rhythm and get him out of the pocket, Missouri will have a good chance to win this game given Tennessee’s horrific defense.

It will be interesting to see how Mizzou defensive coordinator Dave Steckel game plans for Bray and the Volunteers, especially because the Tigers have struggled in pass defense. Some of that falls on the D-line for not creating enough pressure, but a lot of has been broken coverages down field and DB/LB losses in man-to-man battles. Against Tennessee, expect to see a little more nickel and dime coverages, so it will be key to get pressure with a four-man rush. Last week against Florida was a good example of how good this Missouri defense can be. The Tigers were able to contain the run and defend the pass and gave the offense a chance to win. If the defense is able to repeat that performance, the Tigers should have a good chance of their first SEC road win.

The day before, my roommates and I decided that attending College GameDay was a once in a lifetime opportunity and just something we couldn’t pass up, no matter what. We arrived behind Jesse Hall relatively early, around 10 p.m. – it would be another six hours or so before we were granted access to the Quad to reserve our spots. It was brutal, cold, and rainy all night, but we stuck with hundreds of others in the hope of obtaining access to the pit right behind the stage. Luckily our dedication paid off, and we made the cut. As we got on the quad, there were several booths set up with fan gear, drinks, and other freebies, which made everyone pretty happy.

After we registered, we got wristbands that would grant us access around 10:00 a.m. to the famed pit. On a side note, I can’t describe how excited this campus was. Being a freshmen from Chicago, I had no idea what Mizzou football meant to the students and the fans – this was going to be a special day. After re-fueling at the Waffle House and attempting to grab a few hours of sleep on campus, it was finally time for GameDay to begin. As we walked back to the pit, we were stopped by several fans offering up to $30 dollars for our wristbands. I don’t think there was any amount of money we were going to accept for what we had endured for the last 12 hours. The place was unbelievably packed, and, as we would later find out, Mizzou fans set the GameDay record for attendance with approximately 18,000 fans. We were in the best spot and could be seen on TV almost every time the cameras showed the crazy crowd.

The show, the fans, and everything about that Saturday morning was great. It didn’t matter that Lee Corso held up the Tiger helmet for a moment before putting on the Boomer head; Tiger fans had already bought into the upset hype.It was finally game time. I’ve now been to 14 Mizzou home games, and no other game comes close to the atmosphere of that Saturday night. The place was rocking from start to finish, especially when Jahn McGaffie took the opening kickoff 86 yards to the house for the best start Mizzou could have asked for.

The rest of the game was just as exciting. Blaine Gabbert and Landry Jones would go back and forth all night, both throwing over 300 yards a piece. The real difference in the game was Mizzou’s ability to pound the ball against a tough Oklahoma front seven. The Tigers out-rushed star RB DeMarco Murray and the Sooners 178 to 99; Murray was held to a new season low 49 yards.

With the Tigers trailing 21-20 heading into the 4th quarter, that same special feeling was heavier than ever. I remember telling my roommate before the quarter began that one big play would decide this game. I admittedly said Murray was going to break a huge run, and the Sooners wouldn’t look back. I’ve never been more happy to be wrong. It was WR JerrellJackson for Mizzou who would prove me wrong and put the Tigers ahead for good.

Mizzou’s defense, led by Aldon Smith, would completely shut down that potent Sooner offense for the remainder of the game. With the win locked up and the time just expired, thousands of Mizzou students rushed the field to congratulate the players on one of Mizzou’s biggest wins in its program’s history.

The celebration would continue throughout the night as fans dragged the north goal post downtown to Harpo’s, where it was cut into pieces and given to Tigers fans as a piece of college football history. This was truly one of the greatest days a college football fan could ask for.

www.mutigers.com

After a disappointing start to the 2012-2013 season for Coach Gary Pinkel’s Missouri Tigers, the question is whether or not his job is still safe?

Let’s first take a look at what Coach Pinkel has brought to the University of Missouri’s football program over the last 12 years. When Pinkel came to Mizzou the program was mediocre at best. Previous head coaches Larry Smith and Bob Stull were unable to attract recruits, win football games and rarely reached bowl games.

In 11 full seasons, Pinkel has led the Tigers to eight bowl games – seven consecutive – and has gone 4-4 in those games. In order to rebuild a program, Pinkel had to secure in-state prospects as well as battle it out with other powerhouses for top Texas recruits. Over the years, Pinkel has produced dozens of NFL players through his coaching system; the way he develops 3-4 star high school recruits into first rounders is remarkable. Just ask Aldon Smith (Rivals 3 star) or Jeremy Maclin (Rivals 4 star) in recent years. Pinkel is starting to haul in 5-star recruits too, like Dorial Green-Beckham. If he can continue to do this, his job will be safe for a while.

So who’s to blame for this 3-4 (0-4 SEC) season? This team has underperformed, but it has also been extremely injured. It’s obvious that for the past 11 seasons, Pinkel has done a good job in increasing program support from Mizzou and its fan base, has put together seven winning seasons in a row and has taken this program to a new level. However, with the transition to the SEC being so rough thus far, premature Pinkel hot seat rumors are sure to come. Let’s remember Pinkel is the one who gave Tigers fans a reason to be upset with anything less than a bowl appearance.

I’m sure most Tigers fans are already willing to consider this first season a wash. Pinkel, his staff and his players have failed to adjust to the rugged, physical life of SEC football. The real test and factor in keeping Pinkel around until at least 2017 will be how the Tigers play the next few seasons. If Pinkel feels he needs to start recruiting different types of players, change his strategy/philosophy, develop his players differently, or all the above, he needs to start acting now. I don’t think this is the case. I think Pinkel has a ton of confidence in his players and his coaching systems have proven to work in the past. But this is a whole new league, a whole new standard. Pinkel and his Tigers want to prove they belong in the best conference in football. Give the ball coach at least three more seasons of full support. He has certainly earned it.

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SEC newcomers Mizzou and Texas A&M have each played three games in the conference. Which school is performing better? The answer is undeniable: A&M.

The men from College Station are 2-1 (4-1 overall) and have already impressed the country’s best league. SEC play began with a heartbreaking 30-27 loss to a very talented Florida team. The Gators are currently ranked 4th in the country, which provies that A&M can hang with one of the SEC powerhouses. After two non-conference wins, the Aggies welcomed Arkansas and destroyed the Razorbacks 58-10. On Saturday, A&M went on the road and beat Ole Miss 30-27 in Oxford. The victory proved that the Aggies could come from behind in a loud, unfriendly environment.

The play of true freshmen QB Johnny Manziel is carrying the Aggies. He has thrown for 1,285 yards and 11 touchdowns with only two interceptions. Manziel is also fleet on his feet, running 72 times for 495 yards and seven touchdowns. The Aggies appear to be on the right track and should finish in the middle of the West division.

Missouri (3-3, 0-3 SEC), on the other hand, has had a much more difficult time adjusting to its SEC opposition. The Tigers began conference play hosting 14th-ranked Georgia and suffered a 41-20 defeat. The game stayed close for three quarters but Mizzou wilted in the fourth. It got worse against South Carolina, a team that outplayed the Tigers in all aspects of the game. On Saturday, Missouri hosted Vanderbilt. Pundits expected the home side to win its first conference game. Didn’t happen. The offense looked decent to start the game as QB James Franklin led two consecutive field goals drives, but a knee injury knocked him out of the game (and this week’s matchup with No. 1-ranked Alabama). The Tigers lost 19-15.

It doesn’t get easier. Three starting offensive lineman will miss the game against the Crimson Tide. QB Corbin Berkstresser will try to solve a defense that allows only seven points a game. Mizzou will then host Kentucky for homecoming in a very win-able SEC match-up. However, with key injuries continuing to pile up, a 1-7 inaugural season is possible.

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The Tigers have had a rough welcoming to the SEC, losing to now-ranked No. 5 Georgia and No. 6 South Carolina by a combined score of 70-30. However, here are 3 big reasons (in order of importance) why Tigers fans shouldn’t get used to losing to SEC opponents. 

1. Coaching Adjustments

Gary Pinkel and his staff have now seen two of the SEC’s most talented teams. Like most SEC powerhouses, these two teams rely on a punishing ground game and talented defenses. Georgia was able to take over the game through defense, while South Carolina used a combination of defense, Marcus Lattimore, and a career day by Connor Shaw to defeat the Tigers. Now that the coaches have seen what SEC teams like to do, they can now, hopefully, make the necessary adjustments.

Offense

Offensive Coordinator David Yost needs to throw the ball down field. Missouri’s offense has been stagnant since SE Louisiana, and a few big shots down field could change that. Both SEC defenses have shut down Missouri’s rushing and passing attacks, because they have been too predictable. In both games, Tigers fans have seen plenty of run, run, short pass, three-and-outs, especially in the first quarter. The Tigers have three wide receivers who are at least 6-feet-4 inches tall. Teams absolutely have to respect that size and jump ball threat. If Yost can show more confidence in Franklin’s long ball, secondaries may open up and the Tigers could go back to “nickle and diming” defenses down the field.

Defense

Defensive Coordinator Dave Steckel has struggled to put together a defensive game plan to contain these potent offenses for four quarters.The Tigers defense, at times, has shown the ability to pressure the quarterback, shut down the run and cause turnovers, but not on a consistent basis. Against Georgia, the defense played well enough to win the game, but the lack of offense and turnovers put the Tigers defense in tough spots all night. Against South Carolina, the defense looked very confused. It seemed like the game plan was to stop Lattimore and make the Gamecocks beat them through the air, which they did ALL game. Connor Shaw lit up the Tigers defense, going 20-21 with 249 yards and two touchdowns. That’s the difference between good SEC teams and the rest of the FBS – teams like Georgia and South Carolina have the personnel to dominate all aspects of the game. Missouri has a good talented defense, and with a few coaching adjustments and barring injury, they will be just fine in the SEC. 

2. Two Very Good Teams

Missouri has had to face two of the top ten teams in the country in the first four weeks of the season. Both of these teams have extremely high expectations for this season. How interesting would things get in the BCS later this year if Alabama, LSU, South Carolina and Georgia all had one loss?Georgia heads to South Carolina on October 6th in what should be a fantastic match-up. Also that day, Missouri hosts Vanderbilt in what looks like it could be the Tigers first SEC football victory. Unfortunately, the Tigers still have to welcome ‘Bama and travel to Gainesville, Knoxville and College Station later this season.

3. Injuries

No one likes to use injuries as an excuse for a lack of success, but it is worth noting that Missouri has not been healthy this season. Going into week one, Missouri fans had already known they were going to be without star running back Henry Josey all season and with a banged up QB James Franklin. It turns out Franklin’s surgically repaired shoulder could be a lingering problem all season. Other Tigers starters who have missed games this season include OLB Xaviar Gooden, OT Elvis Fisher, RT Jack Meiners and LG Travis Ruth (out for season). Missouri has had to rely on true freshmen such as OL Evan Boehm and RB Russell Hansbrough to fill in for injured veterans. Luckily for the Tigers, Gooden and Meiners are scheduled to be back this week against Central Florida.

College Spun/Nate Jacobson

Over the past 12 years, Coach Pinkel has turned over dozens of former players to the NFL. 

But one of the many benefits of joining the SEC is the number of NFL scouts attending Mizzou games. Thanks to the additional exposure, more Missouri players may be able to sneak up on draft boards.

Here’s who could be drafted in the next couple of years.

2013 Draft Prospects

LB – Zaviar Gooden – Round 4-7 – 6-foot-2, 230 pounds. Gooden is now entering his third full season as the starting weak side linebacker. Gooden recorded at least 80 tackles in his last two seasons while providing numerous big plays on defense. He needs to put on a few pounds of muscle to compliment his athleticism and quickness, but expect him to be a late round pick this summer. If he can produce at a high level against SEC offenses, his draft stock could rise.

WR – T.J. Moe – Round 4-7 – 6 feet, 200 pounds. Mizzou’s own version of Wes Welker, Moe has lead the Tigers in receiving the past two seasons. However, at his size, it would be stretch for him to get drafted before the 5th round. Moe is a dependable slot receiver who is not afraid to go over the middle, but don’t be surprised if he begins his NFL career as a return specialist.

LB – Will Ebner – Round 5-Undrafted – 6 feet, 230 pounds. Ebner has been plagued with injuries over his collegiate career, but the redshirt senior middle linebacker is back for his final season. Ebner doesn’t have great size, but he makes up for it with high football intelligence and a knack for always being around the ball. Expect him to contribute somewhere on special teams.

Other potential late round/undrafted players include LT Elvis Fisher and DB Kip Edwards.

2013-2015 Draft Prospects

DT – Sheldon Richardson – Round 1-4 – 6-foot-4, 295 pounds. Perhaps Mizzou’s highest rated NFL prospect, the redshirt junior is starting to make a name for himself. Richardson anchors a very talented defensive line and shows exceptional speed for a DT. This is a player whose stock can rise if he stays for his senior season. Is he the next Ziggy Hood?

DE – Kony Ealy – Round 1-5 – 6-foot-5, 265 pounds. Only a redshirt sophomore, Ealy has already shown NFL-caliber pass rushing abilities. He is another player whose draft stock will rise as he gets more reps at defensive end. Ealy has the size and potential to become a huge play-maker for the Tigers in the next few seasons.

QB – James Franklin – Round 2-5 – 6-foot-2, 228 pounds. Perhaps the most intriguing prospect for the Tigers is Franklin. The junior has shown he can be mobile and accurate, but perhaps a lot of scouts are wondering how strong his arm is and whether or not he can remain healthy. If Franklin continues to improve his mechanics and decision-making, he could be a solid middle round draft pick.

RB – Henry Josey – Round 3-7 – 5-foot-10 190 pounds. If there’s one position Missouri has not produced for the NFL it would be running back. Maybe Josey can change that. He opened a lot of eyes with a monster 2011 season that was cut short due to a devastating knee injury that will keep him out this entire season. The 2011 Doak Walker Semifinalist will return as a junior next season. He possesses good speed and quickness to go along with a lot of explosiveness. If he can perform the way he did in his sophomore campaign, he can creep up a lot of draft boards.

*WR – Dorial Green-Beckham- Top 10 – Round 1 – 6-foot-6 220 pounds. The number one wide receiver in 2012 recruiting class, DGB has the size, athleticism, and skills to be a potential top ten pick. It is obviously too early to tell just how good this freshman can be, but it looks like the sky is the limit. 

Two other Tigers to keep an eye on are WRs Marcus Lucas and L’Damian Washington. Both stand at 6-foot-5, with Lucas weighing 215, 20 more pounds than Washington. Washington is more of a deep threat/play-maker, while Lucas shows good hands and route running ability.

College Spun/Nate Jacobson

With the 2012-2013 NFL season kicking off last Wednesday night in the Meadowlands, we decided to take a look at how former Mizzou Tigers fared in week one. Five young players made big impacts offensively and defensively for their respective teams this weekend.

Blaine Gabbert

The second year QB for the Jacksonville Jaguars threw for a career high 260 yards to go along with a passer rating of 96.1. Although the Jaguars were defeated by the Vikings in overtime by a score of 26-23, Gabbert had arguably the best game of his young career. The addition of WR Justin Blackmon should help the passing game.

Season prediction: 2,800 yards, 15 touchdowns, 12 interceptions

Jeremy Maclin

The talented and explosive wide receiver helped the Eagles edge out the Browns Sunday afternoon, with seven catches for 96 yards and a touchdown. Maclin and QB Michael Vick have formed quite the tandem since they both became Eagles in 2009. Maclin should get a ton of targets this year due to more double coverage on WR DeSean Jackson.

Season Prediction: 73 receptions, 1,080 yards, 8 touchdowns

Aldon Smith

There were skeptics when the 49er’s made Smith the highest Tiger (No. 7 overall) selected in the 2011 draft. Smith proved he was a top ten pick with a stellar rookie season. The 22-year-old outside linebacker started off the new season with three tackles and a sack against the Packers.

Season Prediction: 45 tackles, 13 sacks, 3 forced fumbles

Sean Weatherspoon

The third year linebacker is poised for another big year in his second full season as a starter for the Falcons. Weatherspoon was tied for second on the team with seven tackles in Sunday’s win over the Chiefs. He also contributed a sack and a pass defended.

Season Prediction: 130 tackles, 5 sacks, 3 interceptions

William Moore

Another third year player and Atlanta Falcon, William Moore, had a strong defensive effort against the Chiefs as well. Moore, the starting strong safety, also had an interception, a tackle for loss, and a pass defended. If Moore can stay healthy, expect him to be a playmaker in the secondary.

Season Prediction:  75 tackles, 6 interceptions, 10 passes defended

Other Tigers in the NFL include the following:

Beau Brinkley – Long Snapper – Titans
Colin Brown – Guard – Bills
Chase Daniel – Quarterback – Saints
Michael Egnew – Tight End – Dolphins
Andrew Gachkar – Linebacker – Chargers
Ziggy Hood – Defensive Tackle – Steelers
C.J. Mosley – Defensive Tackle – Jaguars
Martin Rucker – Tight End – Chiefs
Kevin Rutland – Cornerback – Jaguars
Justin Smith – Defensive End – 49er’s
Brad Smith – QB/RB/WR – Bills