Missouri football's starting kicker Blake Craig has been ruled out for the remainder of the season, MU coach Eli Drinkwitz said during his media availability Tuesday, Sept. 2.
Craig, a redshirt sophomore and the Tigers ' second-year starting placekicker, has sustained a season-ending torn ACL. He sustained an injury while defending the return on his own kickoff in Mizzou's win over Central Arkansas on Thursday night.
Drinkwitz said Mizzou had hoped they may be able to get Craig back before the end of the season, but he had a full tear, underwent surgery Tuesday and is "on his way to recovery," per Drinkwitz.
Craig opened the game by converting field goals from 49 and 55 yards and made both of his two PAT attempts.
But, after Mizzou's first touchdown of the second half, Craig's kickoff traveled just short of the end zone, and he tracked UCA's kick returner down to the 30-yard line on the right sideline. He attempted to assist on the tackle but landed awkwardly out of bounds. The view from the broadcast is slightly obscured, but he appeared immediately unable to put weight on his left leg.
Craig was helped to the Mizzou locker room by team trainers and did not return to the field.
After taking over the starting kicking duties from Harrison Mevis , Craig flashed a big leg but had some inconsistent performances from the intermediate range.
He closed the 2024 campaign on a high note by breaking a Music City Bowl record for longest field goal twice in the space of the fourth quarter half, including the go-ahead 56-yard attempt.
Craig attempted more field goals than any other kicker in the country last season. He finished the year 24-of-34 (70.2%), which included a 1-of-7 mark from 40-49 yards. Craig was a strong 6-of-9 from 50 or more yards and 17-of-18 from 20-39 yards.
The Kansas City product and Liberty North High alum was named to the Lou Groza Award preseason watch list, given to the nation's best kicker each year, and was perfect on his first opportunities of his redshirt sophomore year.
But now, his season is over.
Players are eligible for medical redshirts if they sustain a season-ending injury in the first half of a season and have not played more than 30% of that team's contests that year. Craig, if he opts to go that route, would likely be eligible.
He likely still has three remaining years of eligibility.
That means Mizzou will turn to true freshman Robert Meyer, originally a preferred walk-on commitment, to handle its kicking duties.
The rookie out of Colfax, California, went 4-of-4 on PATs on Thursday in spot duty with Craig out of the game.
According to his team profile on the Missouri football roster page, Meyer was 15-of-19 on field goals and 66-of-68 on PATs over the course of his final two years of high school.
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Missouri also has added Oliver Robbins, an NAIA-level transfer from Florida Memorial, over the summer. Drinkwitz also confirmed the Tigers are bringing in Northeastern Oklahoma A&M kicker Ryan Goodwin as an unexpected late addition. Goodwin has been fully cleared to play, per Drinkwitz.
With Craig out, Robbins took over kickoff duties against Central Arkansas and averaged 57.3 yards over his four attempts with no touchbacks.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football kicker Blake Craig ruled out for season with injury
