ºüÀêÊÓƵ

AMHERST, Mass. — Saturday afternoon in Massachusetts looked a little bit like Monday night football.

Not the NFL’s prime-time product, to be clear, but Missouri’s weekly intrasquad scrimmage and practice designed to highlight younger players by giving them some competitive reps that has gone by the same name.

The No. 21 Tigers blew out UMass 45-3 on Saturday, which — combined with a couple of injuries and absences — created quite a bit of opportunity for the kids to cook.

Some of them did.

Asked what he made of the shifts logged by the players deeper on Mizzou’s depth chart, coach Eli Drinkwitz was happy to disagree with the premise of the question.

“I don’t know that they’re lower down on the depth chart,� he said. “I told them, ‘Go out there and play, and if you make plays, you’re going to play.’ That’s ‘always compete.’�

And always competing is a core tenet of the MU program.

Young players were featured in especially key roles on defense.

Redshirt freshman Nicholas Deloach Jr. started at cornerback for the second straight game. Freshman defensive back Trajen Greco, who has carved out a special teams role, made one solo tackle.

The most impressive of the bunch was linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez. With outside linebacker Triston Newson out for the game because of an undisclosed injury, Rodriguez stepped into the rotation. And when Khalil Jacobs, who started for Newson, left the game in the third quarter because of an injury, Rodriguez’ role grew again.

“Nick Rodriguez, man, was playing — I don’t know how many tackles he ended up with, but he really played well,� Drinkwitz said.

The answer is nine tackles, which was the most of anyone on the Mizzou defense. The four-star recruit out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida was moving around well throughout the defense.

“The thing about Nick is he does that every day in practice,� linebacker Corey Flagg Jr. said. “He’s consistent in doing his job. He listens to (linebackers) Coach DJ (Smith). He’s fine-eyed and detailed in doing his job. Great kid. Played in South Florida, played tough high school football, so I know he can ball.�

Flagg began his college career at Miami, Rodriguez’s hometown, so he knows about the football talent in that part of the country.

Closer to the line of scrimmage, highly touted freshman Williams Nwaneri played an expanded role too because of an injury higher up the depth chart. With No. 2 defensive end Joe Moore III out, Nwaneri stepped into the rotation at that position.

It was just the five-star freshman’s second collegiate appearance, and after struggling to secure playing time, he had his moments against UMass. In the third quarter, Nwaneri leaped on Minuteman quarterback Taisun Phommachanh from behind, dragging the veteran signal-caller down for his first career sack.

Nwaneri remains on track to redshirt, barring Moore’s injury being a significant one — but getting on the stat sheet against Massachusetts makes his progression at least a little bit tangible.

On the offensive side of the ball, yet another injury opened up opportunities for youngsters. Primary tailback Nate Noel was a late scratch because of back tightness, which made Marcus Carroll the primary rusher, and he ran for 91 yards and three touchdowns.

Still, in relief of him, redshirt freshman Jamal Roberts and true freshman Kewan Lacy both got their share of touches.

Roberts has been seeing the field regularly this season, mostly in third-down situations for his ability to pass protect. He took three carries for 7 yards against the Minutemen.

Lacy, another highly regarded prospect who likely will wind up redshirting this season, earned more work as reserves took over the back stretch of the game, finishing with six carries for 41 yards and a reception.

“It’s good to see them boys go out there and tote the rock like that, man, because them guys, they really do deserve it,� Carroll said.