Tigers make call on two more freshmen
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Gilbert Moye was recalling the first time he met the rest of his teammates from Missouri's 2007 recruiting class.
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"We all came together, our first time meeting each other," Moye said. "We made a promise to ourselves that we would get as many guys as we could to play."
Gary Pinkel announced after practice on Wednesday that that number will hit at least four. In addition to Carl Gettis and Luke Lambert, Pinkel said the staff had decided to play both Moye and linebacker Andrew Gachkar.
Gettis has been known for some time and Lambert and Moye came in anticipated at having an excellent shot to see the field. Gachkar came as much more of a surprise.
"He's got great quickness, he can run, he's tough," Pinkel said. "He can help us out on special teams and work his way up, like Brock Christopher did before, like Sean Weatherspoon did before too."
Earlier in camp, Pinkel had said he would not burn a redshirt solely for special teams duty. Gachkar said he hopes to earn some snaps at linebacker by the middle of the season.
"Right away, I don't expect to get any time defensively, but progressively, as I start learning the defense, more," said the Blue Valley product. "That's the main part right now. I could be in on a few plays a game."
The fact that Gachkar has earned his way on to the field becomes even more impressive because he played very little defense in high school.
"Learning the defense was the biggest part for me," Gachkar said. "It's starting to come to me now."
Moye, too, said he will spend time acclimating to the college game on special teams. He could initially see a little more time defensively, as he is the current second-teamer as Missouri's nickel back.
"I have a major role on special teams and I'm looking to get a couple snaps on defense, but not too many," Moye said. "The more I learn, the more I should get a chance to play."
Along with junior college transfers Justin Garrett and Jaysen Corbett, Mizzou's class figures to send six of its newcomers on to the field. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus was discussing Gettis, but could well have been talking about any of the half-dozen, after practice on Tuesday.
Are they ready?
"We'll see," he said. "We've got 11 days to figure it out."
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