Mizzou kicker Blake Craig missed almost all of the 2025 season, but is looking to bounce back strong in 2026.
COLUMBIA — Mizzou’s special teams had a poor 2025 season, but was destined for failure early on.
Starting kicker Blake Craig attempted to make a tackle on kick return coverage against Central Arkansas in Week 1 and tore his ACL. He missed the entire season, leaving a rotation of Robert Meyer, Oliver Robbins and Ryder Goodwin to take his place on kickoffs, extra points and field goals.
The rehab process has been lengthy, but he’s developed
“I've learned so much about myself, and I learned that through adversity like you just grow and mentality wise, stronger than ever,” Craig said. I feel stronger than ever, body wise and everything like that. So, you know, I'm excited to get back out there. It's just a blessing to be back out there with the guys, and the spring has been amazing so far.”
He’s working to come back stronger than ever, and with the help of new special teams coordinator John Papuchis, doing so is quite attainable. Papuchis has coached multiple All-American special teamers, including first-team All-America kicker Ryan Fitzgerald.
Papuchis is making the effort to connect with Craig and hit the ground running.
“Blake was really the first person I met in terms of the players and specialists, because he was here doing some rehab work when I got here,” Papuchis said. “From right off the bat, we've hit it off. I think he's super talented, but I also think he has an unselfishness and a team mindset to him, where he's really embraced the other guys that we brought in. He's worked really hard, and so far, he's done a great job.”
As part of Craig’s rehab, he’s reached out to fellow collegiate kicker Max Gilbert and Georgia punter Brett Thorson, both of whom have gone through a similar injury experience as him.
“Those guys were great, really supportive too, because they both have gone through it,” Craig said. “You got to get back. You got to get your strength back, you got to get your explosiveness back. And I think that that's just, no matter what leg it is, I think either way, your same goal.”
Craig also feels like he’s back to full strength, but the coaching staff doesn’t want to rush him — he’s not kicking off.
“I feel 100% right now,” Craig said. “I'm not kicking off right now in spring, but obviously there's no rush for that. So I'm holding back on the kickoffs, but everything else, I'm full-go.”
Part of the reason he’s not kicking off is because Mizzou brought in kicker / punter Bruno Reus, who has a strong leg and can operate as a kickoff specialist. Either way, Craig headlines the special teams room as the projected starting kicker in 2026.