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Starting defensive end Markus Golden (hamstring) won’t play today against Indiana, multiple outlets reported minutes before kickoff.
Golden has 6.5 tackles for loss and 4 sacks through three games. He wasn’t listed on the injury report all week, and it’s unclear when the hamstring issue surfaced.
Golden has teamed with Shane Ray (7.5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks) to form one of the most potent pass rush combinations in college football. Redshirt freshman Charles Harris will start in Golden’s place. Marcus Loud and Rickey Hatley also have played defensive end this season and likely will get more snaps today.
It’s not good news for Missouri, especially considering the Tigers go on the road to face South Carolina next week. But according to the athletic department, Golden is day-to-day.
As far as Saturday’s game, as long as Missouri can shred Indiana’s poor defense, Golden’s absence shouldn’t be an issue. But Missouri’s depth at defensive end isn’t what it was a year ago (with Golden and Ray, two potential 2015 NFL picks, backing up two 2014 NFL picks.)
Golden did not dress for Saturday’s game. Defensive tackle Matt Hoch, who missed last week’s game against UCF due to a pectoral strain, is expected to play, as are Marcus Murphy (ankle) and Russell Hansbrough (head).
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
