Missouri QB battle: Eli Drinkwitz shares how Sam Horn, Beau Pribula have grown as leaders

The Missouri quarterback competition has been one of the most publicized in the Southeastern Conference this offseason. Penn State transfer Beau Pribula and redshirt junior Sam Horn have been battling it out in practice all offseason, but a starter has yet to be named less than two weeks away from Missouri‘s season opener.

Pribula enters the 2025 season having attempted just 56 passes for 424 yards, nine touchdowns and just one interception in his career. He was used more as a runner by James Franklin, as he rushed for 571 yards and 10 more scores in that same span.

Horn has spent his entire career at Missouri, but did not play at all last season. He’s played in just four games since 2022, where he’s completed three passes for 54 yards, one touchdown and one interception. As Drinkwitz said last week, the quarterback position is likely their biggest question mark heading into the 2025 season.

Drinkwitz took the podium on Tuesday to recap Fall camp, where he revealed that he has been proud of how both Pribula and Horn have grown as leaders in such a short time.

Pribula and Horn have been battling for job all offseason

“I challenged them after Saturday’s scrimmage and I think they’ve been the best they’ve been the past three days,” Drinkwitz said. “Even yesterday we were doing an end of game scenario and Matt (Zollers) threw a game-winning touchdown to Logan (Muckey) and the first two guys in the end zone celebrating were 21 (Horn) and 9 (Pribula) racing down there.”

“So I think those guys have displayed an elite level of leadership and the last three days have really embraced not making it about them and more about the team. I feel very comfortable with both of those guys.”

Whether it’s Pribula or Horn that wins the job, they will have big boots to fill following the departure of Brady Cook to the NFL. Cook led the Tigers to a 27-12 record over the past three seasons, throwing for 8,591 yards, 46 touchdowns and 15 interceptions.

“Yeah, I don’t have the timeline yet on the decision,” Drinkwitz said on Saturday. “So, you know, everybody else is pressed about week one. I’m not really pressed about it. I’m pressed on who’s going to reveal themselves in the starting quarterback. I think you know, they’re both playing really well from a statistical standpoint, from a touchdown-interception ratio, from a completion percentage, from a third down percentage. 

Missouri opens its 2025 season at home against Central Arkansas on Aug. 28. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:30 PM on SEC Network.