The Missouri Tigers will play without quarterback Maty Mauk this Saturday, as he has been suspended for at least one game for violation of team rules, according to Greg Ostendorf of ESPN.
The junior quarterback won't be the only player unavailable, as offensive lineman Malik Cuellar has also been suspended for violating team rules. Both players will miss Saturday's game against South Carolina.
Mauk has started the past 18 games for the Tigers, and the team will likely miss his production. The Tigers quarterback threw for 2,648 yards last season with 25 touchdowns. Mauk can also move the ball on the ground, as he rushed for over 300 yards last season. Mauk certainly has confidence, but that's a trait coaches tend to like to see in quarterbacks. Prior to last season, Mauk compared himself with Johnny Manziel, saying, "I feel like I have the ability to do similar things, and that's what people are expecting out of me in Columbia (Mo.)," via nfl.com.
Without Mauk, the Tigers will look to true freshman Drew Lock to step in. Lock could have been redshirted this season, but head coach Gary Pinkel stated back in August that Lock won't redshirt because he could help the team, according to Jacob Bogage of the Columbia Missourian.
The Tigers just suffered their first loss of the season against Kentucky last week, and they will not want to fall behind South Carolina, as two losses in the SEC East could really hurt their season. Lock will likely need a big game to get a win over the Gamecocks this Saturday.
