New Missouri Coach Barry Odom Reinstates QB Maty Mauk for 2016 Season

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Whatever the grievances may have been between former Missouri head coach Gary Pinkel along with the football program and starting quarterback Maty Mauk have been buried, for a third time, with new head coach Barry Odom. On Wednesday, Odom reinstated Mauk after a series of talks with the soon to be senior.

In theory, Odom should know as well as anyone about the ups and downs of Mauk with the Tigers football program. Odom was Missouri’s defensive coordinator in 2015 before being promoted to head coach after Pinkel’s retirement at the end of a tough 5-7 season. During the season Mauk was suspended twice, the first time for violation of program polices in September but no official reasons were given for the second suspension.

Mauk began the season as the team’s starter for a second consecutive season leading Missouri to a 3-1 record over a fairly light schedule. Through four games Mauk passed for 654 yards with six touchdowns against four interceptions.

The following eight games without Mauk did not go as well seeing the team go 2-6 missing out on a bowl invite. Freshman Drew Lock was handed the keys to the offense struggling against SEC competition. Lock passed for 1,332 yards with four touchdowns against eight picks completing 49 percent of his pass attempts.

Mauk and Lock are expected to battle it out for the starting position in 2016. Mauk has posted a 17-5 record as the starting quarterback for the Tigers.

Photo credit: fansided.com; No. 7 Maty Mauk.