Missouri’s fall camp is underway and several key positions will be up for grabs. Here is a look at some of the position battles to keep an eye on as camp progresses:
1. Running back
Top contenders: Kendial Lawrence, Marcus Murphy
The prognosis doesn’t look good for the return of Henry Josey after the star RB had a major knee injury in November of 2011 that has required multiple surgeries to fix. Replacing his 1,168 rushing yards won’t be easy, but Lawrence and Murphy have potential. Lawrence filled in nicely after Josey went down in 2011 -- picking up 371 yards over the Tigers' last four games. Murphy missed all of 2011 with a shoulder injury, but had a 69-yard run against Texas Tech in 2010, and has shown flashes of potential in limited work at RB and on special teams.
2. Defensive end
Top contenders: Michael Sam, Kony Ealy
Senior Brad Madison should have one DE spot locked down, leaving Sam and Ealy to battle for playing time on the other end. Both got extensive work in spring practice with Madison on the shelf after undergoing shoulder surgery. Ealy, a sophomore, saw action in every game as a freshman and has impressed coaches with his athleticism. Sam has the experience edge as a redshirt junior who has 53 career tackles and six sacks.
3. Wide receiver
Top contenders: T.J. Moe, Dorial Green-Beckham, Marcus Lucas, Jimmie Hunt, L’Damian Washington
Nobody questions the overall talent of this group, but it will be interesting to see how the depth chart sorts itself out. Moe, a senior, is the most proven asset in the group, coming off a year with 54 receptions for 649 yards. He had an even better sophomore year in 2011 with 1,045 reception yards. True freshman Dorial Green-Beckham brings enormous potential and size at 6-foot-6 and 220 pounds. Speaking of size, this group has a lot of it. Three of the projected top five WRs -- Green-Beckham, Washington and Lucas – are all over 6-foot-3.
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