What to know/How to watch: Mizzou vs. UMass
We’ve reached Week 5 and the earliest Mizzou Homecoming in program history. Here are some basics to know about the game against the UMass Minutemen.
Basic Game Info
- Where: Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium
- When: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27
- TV: ESPNU
- Radio: Tiger Radio Network
UMass (0-3) team stats
- Schedule so far: Losses to Temple (42-10), Bryant (27-26) and Iowa (47-7).
- Points per game: 14.33 (tied 130th in country out of 134)
- Points allowed per game: 38.67 (128th in country)
- Total yards per game: 259.7 (133rd in country)
- Total yards allowed per game: 433.7 (122nd in country)
- Passing yards per game: 183.0 (tied 105th in country)
- Passing yards allowed per game: 276.0 (tied 120th in country)
- Rushing yards per game: 76.7 (129th in country)
- Rushing yards allowed per game: 157.7 (89th in country)
Mizzou (4-0, 1-0) team stats
- Schedule so far: Wins against Central Arkansas (61-6), Kansas (42-31), Louisiana (52-10) and South Carolina (29-20).
- Points per game: 46.0 (10th in country)
- Points allowed per game: 16.75 (35th in country)
- Total yards per game: 554.2 (6th in country)
- Total yards allowed per game: 223.8 (8th in country)
- Passing yards per game: 256.25 (46th in country)
- Passing yards allowed per game: 150.5 (19th in country)
- Rushing yards per game: 298.0 (5th in country)
- Rushing yards allowed per game: 73.2 (12th in country)
Players to know
Offense
AJ Hairston, QB
Redshirt freshman quarterback AJ Hairston was announced as the starter for this week. He played in four games last season and was 40-of-73 passing for 480 yards and five touchdowns.
He did not play against the Tigers last year, but he did play against Mississippi State and Georgia and was 14-of-27 for 183 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions in those two games.
In two appearances this season, Hairston is 7-of-12 passing for 84 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions.
Hairston was a three-star recruit coming out of high school.
The Minutemen could also turn to graduate Grant Jordan or junior Brandon Rose. Jordan has played in all three games and Rose has appeared in two this season.
Rocko Griffin, RB
After three seasons at Vanderbilt and two at UTSA, Griffin is finishing his college career at UMass.
In three games, Griffin leads the team with 30 carries for 142 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
He has not been much of a receiving threat with just three catches for 8 yards.
No one else on the team has more than 50 rushing yards this season, so the 5-foot-9, 200-pound back is the expected go-to guy.
Jacquon Gibson, WR
Last season, Gibson caught 23 passes for 270 yards. This year, he’s the primary option with 24 catches for 258 yards.
He does not have a touchdown, but he did run the ball three times against Bryant for 11 yards.
He is the only pass catcher with ore than 90 yards receiving this season.
Defense
Timmy Hinspeter, LB
After playing three seasons at Rutgers, the 6-1, 230-pound linebacker came to UMass and was picked preseason All-MAC fourth-team defense.
Through three games, Hinspeter leads the team with 24 total tackles to go with 2.0 tackles for loss and a sack against Iowa.
He also had one pass breakup against Bryant.
Marques White, EDGE
After four seasons at Dartmouth and one at McNeese State, White has become the key pass rusher for the Minutemen.
In three games, he leads the team with 2.0 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss. He has six total tackles, so a heavy amount of his work comes in the backfield.
He had two tackles for loss against Iowa.