Lovett could have grumbled about his first college season. Mizzou’s erratic quarterback play surely contributed to his struggles, but Lovett refuses to describe his season in any negative terms. “I just felt like it was outstanding because it opened my eyes,” he said. “Getting to see my friends and family in the stands from St. Louis and East St. Louis come out to see me, that’s outstanding.” “It’s all part of the process,” he added. “Every freshman year is different. I had my role, and I actually enjoyed it. As long as the team got the ‘W’ or we came together as a team that’s what I was worried about.” Lovett’s cheering section should have more to celebrate this fall. Tigers third-year coach Eli Drinkwitz blames himself and his play-calling for Lovett’s inconsistent production last season, but the staff made a crucial decision this offseason that could vault the sophomore into a bigger and better role. At the start of spring practices, under new receivers coach Jacob Peeler, Mizzou shifted Lovett inside to the slot position — he played almostexclusively on the outside last season — and he emerged as the most lethal playmaker in the team’s spring scrimmage, finishing with a team-high 109 receiving yards. “That’s where he belongs,” Drinkwitz said. “I’m proud of the way he’s really growing up and maturing. Coach Peeler has done a really good job of just continuing to develop his ability to run routes, change speeds. He’s always been a really good hand-catcher. The challenge for us is to find ways to get him touches.” That was easier said than done last year. Lovett dropped only one pass, but the Tigers rarely threw to him downfield. His average depth per targetwas less than 6 yards past the line of scrimmage, while 13 of his 36 targets were behind the line. Quarterbacks didn’t gave him chances to snag passes against coverage, throwing him just one ball that was contested by a defender. As starting quarterback Connor Bazelak struggled with a leg injury in the second half of the year, Lovett’s production all but vanished: In the final six games, he was targeted just eight times with six catches. He went from playing 44 snaps against Texas A&M to seeing the field for just three plays three weeks later against South Carolina. “It’s our jobs as coaches to make sure we’re getting him enough opportunities to impact the game,” Drinkwitz said. “Going back and looking at last year, I just didn’t do a good enough job of getting those (receivers) opportunities.” “I think it was just a figure-out process for (Lovett),” Peeler said. “We made the transition to put him inside in the spring to get the ball in his hands maybe a little bit faster. For him, his elusiveness and his ability to make a guy miss, we saw that in the spring game, which was good for me to even see because a lot of times in spring practices you’re blowing (the play) dead and you’re not tacklinglive. We were able to put him in live scenarios and just see how he responded to getting tackled one-on-one and then have the ability to stretch the defense. “It’s always really important in an offense to have a guy that can put stress on defenses, put stress on safeties and corners. His speed element is something we’re excited about.” Lovett’s emergence, combined with the arrival of five-star freshman receiver Luther Burden III and the return of several veteran wideouts could alleviate some concerns about the ongoing uncertainty at quarterback. Lovett, who initially committed to Arizona State, figures to split snaps with slot receivers Barrett Banister (31 catches last year for 226 yards) and Mookie Cooper (17-194) but believes he’s found his natural position. “Personally, it gives you more freedom and options to run your routes,” he said. “You’re not in such a tight, confined space. It’s just fun running by defenders.” His favorite route? Better listen, QB contenders. “Slot fade,” Lovett said. “I’m a vertical threat. That’s how I look at myself. It’s just fun running under the ball, running for a touchdown, getting that deep pass and getting the momentum going.”
