The biggest piece of Missouri's offseason puzzle fell into place on Tuesday afternoon. Quarterback Drew Lock announced he will return to Mizzou for his senior season.
“I’m very excited to be coming back for my senior year, and I’m really optimistic about what we can do as a team next season,” Lock said in a release from the school. “There were a lot of factors that went into this decision, but the main ones include: a feeling of responsibility and loyalty to my coaches and teammates at Mizzou – we have goals to achieve together; having the chance to play for a new coach in Coach Dooley, and his system that will continue to add to my development; and of course, getting my degree. I feel like all of these factors combine to give me the best chance to succeed at the next level. Thank you to Coach Odom and everyone on the Mizzou staff for being patient and very helpful to my family and me during this process. I’m looking forward to exciting things to come!”
“I’m proud of Drew and his family for how they approached this decision and how they handled themselves during the process,” head coach Barry Odom said in the release. “We were very thorough in gathering all the information possible to assist. Drew obviously has a great skill set that will continue to be developed at Mizzou. His leadership skills and being a great teammate are two qualities that I admire. I look forward to building our team this spring and am excited that Drew will be part of that. I know he will have an unbelievable approach in his preparation and practice habits to lead our program. He’s going to graduate from Mizzou and have a great senior season. I’m excited for Drew and our team moving forward.'”
Lock threw for 3,964 yards, a nation-leading 44 touchdowns and 13 interceptions as a junior. Lock's 44 touchdowns were the most for a Power Five quarterback in the last nine seasons. He had at least three touchdown passes in eight consecutive games to end the regular season.
Lock told reporters prior to the Texas Bowl that the NFL Draft Advisory Council advised him to stay in school, which means it did not predict him to be a first or a second-round draft pick. But since that game, Lock kept the mystery alive and had not addressed his future until Tuesday.
The Tigers announced former Tennessee head coach and Dallas Cowboys wide receivers coach Derek Dooley as their offensive coordinator on Friday. Sources close to Lock had told PowerMizzou.com he would not make a public decision until the Tigers had named their OC. Dooley will be Lock's third offensive coordinator in four years at Missouri.
With Lock's return, Mizzou will bring back nine of its 11 starters on offense. That does not include Damarea Crockett, who missed the second half of the season with a shoulder injury, but was the Tigers' starting tailback for the first six games. Missouri was eighth in the country in total offense, 14th in passing and 14th in scoring in 2017.
