COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri junior QB Drew Lock (Lee’s Summit, Mo.) will return to Mizzou for his senior season in 2018, as he announced today. Lock had considered early entry into the 2018 NFL Draft, but after consulting with family and coaches, he has chosen to don the black and gold uniform for his final year.

“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. “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!”

Lock, a sport management major at Mizzou, is scheduled to earn his degree this December. He enjoyed a breakout junior campaign in 2017 as he led the nation with an MU and SEC-record 44 touchdown passes, helping lead Mizzou to seven wins and the program’s first bowl game since 2014. With his return in 2018, the Tiger offense (which has led the SEC in total offense each of the last two seasons) will now return nine starters. In all, Mizzou will return 18 starters next season, including seven on defense, as well as both kicking specialists.

“I’m proud of Drew and his family for how they approached this decision and how they handled themselves during the process,” said Head Coach Barry Odom. “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,” he said.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri Head Football Coach Barry Odom has promoted Mizzou alum A.J. Ofodile to the position of assistant coach, as announced today. Ofodile, who has served the past two seasons on Odom’s staff in the crucial role of director of recruiting operations, will shift to an on-field role with his alma mater as the program’s 10th assistant. Details of Ofodile’s contract will be released once fully executed, along with his duties.

“A.J. has been a very vital member of our staff the past two years,” said Odom. “I’ve leaned on his input in a lot of areas, and he’s constantly made our program better. He’s a loyal guy who cares about our kids and making Mizzou the best it can be. I’m excited to have him on board with our coaching staff, and am looking forward to how he can help us improve. His career as a player at the college and NFL levels will be very valuable as well as his previous coaching experience. The past two years overseeing our recruiting department has provided great results for us on the field, and he will certainly continue those efforts in his new role,” he said.

The past two recruiting cycles have produced outstanding results for Mizzou under Ofodile’s direction. The most recent class of 2018, while not yet finished, already ranks 36th nationally according to Rivals.com. Prior to that, the 2017 class ranked 49th nationally according to Rivals.com, but immediately paid big dividends with several instant-impact performers who helped Mizzou to a seven-win season and first bowl game since 2014 this past year. Fifteen members of the 25-man 2017 class saw the field in their first year with the program, including four who started during the course of the season, including DT Rashad Brandon, OL Yasir Durant, DB Adam Sparks and DB Jordan Ulmer.

“I’m very excited for the opportunity to continue to contribute to the success and growth of this program,” said Ofodile. We have outstanding young men who believe in Coach Odom’s vision for their program and it is exciting to have the opportunity to work with our kids more directly going forward. The future of Mizzou Football is very bright and I’m excited to take on a new role and contribute to its success wherever I’m asked.”

Ofodile, 44, joined Odom’s staff at MU in May of 2016, following a successful stint as head football coach at Columbia’s Rock Bridge High School, from 2003-2015. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach and offensive coordinator for Odom at Rock Bridge during Odom’s head coaching stint there from 2001-02. After Odom joined Mizzou’s coaching staff prior to the 2003 season, Ofodile took over as head coach. In 2013, his Bruins were state runners up, reaching the state championship game for the first time since 1993.

A first-team All-Big Eight selection as a tight end in 1993 for Mizzou, Ofodile was a three-year letterwinner (1991-93), and finished his Tiger career with 73 receptions for 851 yards and six touchdowns. After an outstanding 1993 season which included 55 catches for 589 yards and four scores, he was drafted in the fifth round of the 1994 NFL Draft by Buffalo, and went on to spend six years in the league with Buffalo, Pittsburgh and Baltimore through 1999.

— Mizzou Athletics —

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Sophie Cunningham had every reason to believe No. 15 Missouri could knock off fourth-ranked and defending national champion South Carolina.

Her signature moment last season came when she hit a last-second shot in the Tigers’ win over the Gamecocks. She was too much for South Carolina to handle again on Sunday, scoring 27 points to lead Missouri to an 83-74 victory.

“Our mentality going in was that we’re winning this game,” said Cunningham, who had seven assists and six rebounds. “Everyone from top to bottom knew we were going to.”

Cunningham, who suffered a right knee sprain last week and sat out Missouri’s loss to LSU on Thursday, returned with a knee brace but showed no ill effects.

The 6-foot-1 guard made 9 of 10 shots, including a scoop that she launched from below her waist and an over-the-shoulder prayer over 6-foot-5 A’ja Wilson.

“They’re going in, so I’m not going to complain,” Cunningham said.

Amber Smith had 20 points and 12 rebounds and Cierra Porter added 11 points for the Tigers (14-2, 2-1 Southeastern Conference). Tyasha Harris and Bianca Jackson each scored 14 for the Gamecocks (13-2, 2-1).

South Carolina coach Dawn Staley was ejected after drawing her second technical foul with 2:55 left and Missouri leading 69-60.

Staley was particularly upset that Wilson, the SEC’s leading scorer, fouled out after just 19 minutes. Wilson finished with eight points, the first time she has scored fewer than 16 this season.

Staley said a player of Wilson’s caliber ought to get the benefit of the doubt from officials.

“I’ve never seen anybody play half a game like A’ja Wilson played today,” Staley said. “Never seen it.”

Missouri Coach Robin Pingeton credited her defense with Wilson’s short day.

“We’re always frustrated as coaches with different calls in the flow of the game, but I’m going to give our kids a lot of credit. I just am,” Pingeton said. “I thought our kids did a great job following the game plan and really clogging it up and making it tough to move in the paint.”

Missouri’s emphasis on Wilson gave South Carolina some open looks from 3-point range, but the Gamecocks made just 6 of 18 from beyond the arc. The Tigers shot 56.3 percent from the field and 61.5 percent on 3-pointers.

Cunningham sometimes gets under the skin of opposing players with her physical play, and Sunday was no exception.

“Everybody’s going to say she’s a dirty player, but from my standpoint, she’s a gritty, tough-nosed kid,” Smith said. “She works me every day in practice, and if I’m not working hard enough, she’s going to let me know.”

Staley hopes her team will react to the loss the same way it did last season.

“Last year when they beat us, we went on to win a national championship,” she said. “Maybe this is a prelude to that.”

BIG PICTURE

South Carolina: Staley said she texted Sally Bell, the SEC coordinator of women’s basketball officials, before the game to complain that two of the officials — Metta Roberts and Luis Gonzalez — worked last year’s game at Missouri, when she was also upset about the whistles.

“I don’t know if that’s just coincidental,” Staley said. “That’s what she said it was. You’ve got to do better. I’m not saying they’re the reason why (South Carolina lost), but you’ve got to do better when you’re coordinating officials and games.”

Missouri: Last season, Pingeton used the 5-foot-11 Smith as a power forward. This year, Smith is playing guard, but she hasn’t lost her knack for rebounding.

The sophomore is developing into an offensive threat in SEC play, averaging 18.3 points in conference games.

“She’s an all-in kid, whatever it takes for our team,” Pingeton said. “Early in the season, there was an adjustment. She went from playing with her back to basket to a stretch-four to our off guard. That’s a pretty big change, having the ball in your hands coming off ball screens instead of setting the screens. She’s an incredible kid, incredible teammate.”

UP NEXT

South Carolina hosts Auburn on Thursday.

Missouri visits Vanderbilt on Thursday.

— Associated Press —