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 —