When examining what exactly went wrong in Missouri 's 2025 season, many will point toward the injuries and subsequent struggling play at quarterback. They'd be right, but the second-biggest downfall was the Tigers' kicking.
Blake Craig was early on in his second season as a starter, fresh off a redshirt freshman 2024 campaign in which the Kansas City-area native made 70.6% of his field goals, including going 6-for-9 from beyond 50 yards. Missouri's kicking looked promising early on in 2025, too. In the Tigers' Week 1 matchup against Central Arkansas, Craig made all three of his extra points, then drilled a 49-yarder and a 55-yarder.
Who could've guessed those would be the two longest kicks Missouri would make all season?
Shortly after his 55-yarder, Craig tore his ACL while attempting to make a tackle during a third-quarter kickoff. He was sidelined the remainder of the season, and his presence was sorely missed. Craig detailed his journey through recovery, and while his absence from the field was certainly a detriment to the team, Craig found value in the hardship.
Aug. 28, 2025; Columbia, MO, USA; In the first kickoff of the season, Missouri Tigers kicker Blake Craig sends the ball to the opposite end of the field. | Sam Simon/MissouriOnSI
"I won't lie, it was tough at some points, but like I said, I would do it all over again if I had to, because I'd become a better man because of it," Craig told reporters Tuesday. "I'd say emotionally, it was tough like watching from the sidelines when you want to play for your university or whatnot. But you know, you kind of grow from those situations. You support your teammates better. You get a new perspective and understanding of how much this game means to you. And I think that I wouldn't trade that for the world. Going into the season, I just think the main thing for me is I'm gonna take it day by day, game by game. I just want to enjoy every moment of it, because that's how important it is to me."
Luckily for the Tigers, Craig is back and fully recovered ahead of the 2026 season in which his presence, which was so sorely missed a season ago, will be gleefully welcomed.
"Powers' back to full strength," Craig said. "I feel great. (Can) kick from any distance. Mizzou likes to kick long field goals, so I'm ready for that."
Missouri may like to kick long field goals, but kicks of that nature were nearly entirely rid from last season's playbook. The Tigers attempted just two kicks from 50 or more yards out: a made 55-yarder from Craig in Week 1 and a missed 54-yard attempt from Robbins against Mississippi State. To take it one step further, Robbins and Meyer only made three combined kicks from 40 or more yards out: Meyer with a 40-yarder against South Carolina , and Robbins with a 49-yarder against A&M and a 41-yarder against Arkansas.
Missouri Tigers kicker Robert Meyer (88) and Missouri Tigers holder Connor Weselman (45) react to a missed field goal in the first overtime as Auburn Tigers take on Missouri Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala. on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2025. Missouri Tigers defeated the Auburn Tigers 23-17 in 2OT. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
All other 15 Southeastern Conference programs had a kicker convert more field goals from 40 or more yards out than the three that Missouri's kickers combined for - the closest to the Tigers' trio was Scott Starzyk of Arkansas, who drilled three kicks from the 40-to-49-yard range and an additional two from 50-plus.
With Missouri's starter back at full strength, it's hard to imagine a scenario in which a healthy Craig doesn't shatter the quantity of 40-to-49-yard and 50-plus yard kicks that Robbins and Meyer combined for in 2025.
There has been a few changes since Craig last kicked in-game, though. For starters, the construction by the North end zone of Memorial Stadium is near completion and should be complete before the Tigers' Week 1 matchup against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The construction added more seating and sealed up the stadium into a complete bowl shape, which changes a few technical aspects of kicking.
"You got more aiming points back there," Craig said. "Before, it was kind of just a scoreboard, and you never know, they could throw something up on the scoreboard when you're trying to aim at something. But no, the only thing I think it will affect is like maybe some wind. But if anything, it's going to just be better because it's blocking. I've noticed kicking that direction, though, there's not a lot, a whole lot of face, head-on wind. You got you got some more swirling wind, kind of like like big stadiums, like NFL stadiums. It kind of has that feel to it now, so it kind of just gets in there and swirls. So you can hit a straight ball, and it's not going to affect it too much."
Along with a new backdrop for kicking, Craig also has a new coach - former special teams coordinator Erik Link's contract was not renewed, and Missouri replaced him with John Papuchis. Papuchis has over a decade of experience coaching special teams, including stops at Florida State , Nebraska and Maryland . Papuchis coached AFCA first-team All-America kicker Ryan Fitzgerald at Florida State and first-team All-America kicker Alex Henery at Nebraska.
Craig has enjoyed the early stages of working with his new coach.
Florida State football and coaches players arrive for the fifth FSU spring football practice of the 2023 season on Thursday, March 23.John Papuchis 1 Of 1 | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
"Coach (Papuchis) has been awesome for my development," Craig said. "He's loud, and he'll tell you exactly what he needs to get done. He has high standards, and that's exactly what we need in the specialist room. And for me too, coming back off the injury, you don't want to set the bar too low for yourself. So I I'm looking at the sky."
From what can be seen through the first week and change of fall camp, Craig is right - Papuchis is absolutely loud. If the rest of the room shares similar opinions to Craig, it's safe to say Papuchis' energy is working.
Joining Craig in as kickers is Robbins, the returner, and Florida State transfer Brunno Reus, who will likely handle kickoffs, per Eli Drinkwitz at SEC Media Days. Tennessee State transfer Mark Shenouda - who logged an 82-yard punt last season - and returner John Butcher are the punters, although Reus may punt, too. Preseason All-SEC first-team honoree Brett Le Blanc rounds out the special teams at long snapper.
"I think we're going to surprise some people. Like, I think we're going to be really good this year. He has full belief in every single specialist in that room. This is the most talented room I've ever been around."
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This article was originally published on www.si.com/college/missouri as Mizzou kicker Blake Craig missed most of 2025 with an injury. He'd do it all over again if he had to. .
