ATLANTA 鈥 Despite being picked in the MLB draft earlier this week, Missouri quarterback/pitcher Sam Horn remains on track to play football for the Tigers this fall, competing to be the team鈥檚 starting quarterback.
Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz confirmed Thursday that he鈥檚 been in touch with Horn and his agent throughout the pre-draft process, leaving no confusion within the team facility over Horn鈥檚 availability.
鈥淣othing has changed,鈥 Drinkwitz said. 鈥淪am and I had conversations, we鈥檝e talked to his agent, nothing鈥檚 changed that I鈥檝e heard of. I anticipate Sam鈥檚 commitment to our football program and our team.鈥
Horn was picked by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 17th round of the draft. Because he鈥檚 able to throw 98 miles per hour off the mound, he was a top-100 prospect despite having thrown only 15 innings in three seasons due to Tommy John surgery.
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In terms of pure upside, Horn probably would鈥檝e been picked earlier. But his agent made clear to MLB teams that Horn intended to play football this fall. The Dodgers, then, knew what they were getting into when they picked Horn.
He has until July 28 鈥 likely the first day of MU鈥檚 preseason camp, incidentally 鈥 to decide whether or not to sign with the Dodgers. It鈥檚 not clear if the franchise would sign Horn and let him play football or if he鈥檒l forego a deal now and hope for better draft position in 2026.
Horn is competing with Penn State transfer Beau Pribula to be the Tigers鈥 starting quarterback.
鈥淚 told him the day he got drafted I was proud of him,鈥 Drinkwitz said, 鈥渁nd I would see him at 6:30 workouts in the morning.鈥
Young takes spotlight during homecoming
Mizzou defensive end Zion Young hits quarterbacks for a living. He鈥檚 part of a deep position group that he says is full of 鈥渁lpha males.鈥 And just a few minutes into his first of many interviews as a player doing the rounds at the Southeastern Conference鈥檚 media days, he was nearly in tears.
Young, one of three players Drinkwitz chose to represent the Tigers, was back in his hometown of Atlanta for the event. He starred at Westlake High School, about 16 miles from where media days were held at the College Football Hall of Fame.
鈥淚t was unreal, just being back in my hometown where I played football,鈥 Young said. "Me being an Atlanta native, I just can鈥檛 believe I鈥檓 here right now. 鈥 It feels good, you know what I mean, to represent this team.鈥
His straightforward, easygoing and energetic personality made him a hit among attending media. Soundbites like 鈥淚f you were a tiger, would you want to date a cat? 鈥 You鈥檇 want to date a lion鈥 earned him a round of applause from a collection of TV reporters as he left one media session.
Drinkwitz egged on Young by reminding him of what happened during the player鈥檚 2021 high school signing day. He snubbed Drinkwitz and MU at the last minute to sign with Michigan State.
But after two seasons with the Spartans, Young was in the portal. Drinkwitz set aside any hurt feelings to give the defensive end a call. They made up, though Drinkwitz still finds ways to remind his senior what happened.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 make the right decision the first time,鈥 Young said. 鈥淏ut we doubled back, so we here now.鈥
Giudice grabs right guard spot
Who will start at another of Missouri鈥檚 open offensive line positions became clearer Thursday when Drinkwitz said Michigan transfer Dominick Giudice will mostly play right guard this season.
Giudice mostly played center with the Wolverines. Of his 317 snaps last season, 250 came at center, 63 came at right guard and four came at left guard.
Returning starter Connor Tollison, who鈥檚 on track to play Week 1 with no limitations, is holding down center, though, so Giudice will bounce one spot over for his starting role. He impressed while filling in for Tollison during spring, so coaches moved him to right guard to get him comfortable working at that spot.
Giudice is likely to have one more year of eligibility to play in 2026, if he submits a waiver that MU expects would be approved, at which point he may switch back to center. For 2025, though, the right guard spot seems to be his.
Four spots along the Tigers鈥 offensive line are now firmed up heading into fall camp. Wake Forest transfer Keagen Trost won the right tackle job in spring practice. Giudice will play right guard, Tollison will play center. And Cayden Green will reprise his left guard role, now as one of the best in the nation at that position.
Several linemen will then compete for the left tackle job during camp.
Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz speaks with the media on Thursday, July 17, 2025, during SEC media days in Atlanta. (Courtesy Southeastern Conference)
