New Mizzou quarterback Austin Simmons possesses the unique trait of being left-handed. Eli Drinkwitz, Chip Lindsey, Cayden Green and Donovan Olugbode discuss adapting to the change.
COLUMBIA — Mizzou has a new face of the quarterback room in the form of Ole Miss transfer Austin Simmons.
Simmons possesses talent that head coach Eli Drinkwitz values, transferring to Mizzou as a four-star prospect and transfer who previously started for Ole Miss. The former Rebel threw four touchdowns and five interceptions in two games as a starter in 2025 — not ideal numbers, but given the circumstances, it could be worse.
Drinkwitz has experience in developing quarterbacks with little starting experience, but he doesn’t have experience in developing quarterbacks with Simmons’ most unique trait: his dominant left hand.
“I don't have a lot of history with left-handed quarterbacks,” Drinkwitz said. “The truth of it is a left-handed quarterback actually ends up playing for you, they usually turn out to be really good because they have had to overcome a lot of bias.”
He then cited Kellen Moore, the brother of former Mizzou offensive coordinator Kirby Moore, and Steve Young, Pro Football Hall of Famer, as success stories at the position. More recently, Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. have seen success at the collegiate level — it’s certainly possible for lefties to succeed.
While still possible, the left-handed quarterback sees little success in the collegiate and professional levels compared to the right-handed, who the majority of starting quarterbacks are labeled as.
Both of Drinkwitz’ top assistants, offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey and quarterbacks coach Garrett Riley, will play a crucial role in working through the development of Simmons.
“It will affect some of the crux beliefs about the quarterback that coaches have about quarterbacks, like you don't ever boot to the offhand of the quarterback,” Drinkwitz said. So we might have to be conscientious of that. I think there is some conscientious things that I've challenged both Garrett and Chip to make sure we're aware of in our scripting, to make sure that we're not putting our quarterback in a negative spot.”
Lindsey has experience working with left-handed quarterbacks at previous stops, such as Max Johnson at UNC and Matthew Bergeron at Southern Miss. While there’s an obvious difference in throwing motion, Lindsey shares the same belief as Drinkwitz regarding lefties: they can produce.
“If a guy can throw it, he can throw it,” Lindsey said. “It doesn't matter if he's left-handed or right-handed. And Austin obviously has a lot of arm talent.”
The coaching staff aren’t the only ones acclimating to their new quarterbacks playstyle — top offensive players are learning on the fly as well.
Returning wide receiver Donovan Olugbode, who caught 30 receptions for 401 yards and two touchdowns while catching passes from right-handed starters Beau Pribula and Matt Zollers. Olugbode emerged as a unique talent in the latter half of the season, making eye-popping catches each week. Talent aside, he still lacks experience in a department he’ll need to improve upon when playing with Simmons: catching lefty passes.
“At first it was weird because that was my first time catching if I'm a left-handed quarterback,” Olugbode said. “But it takes time to use him, (I) got used to him pretty fast.”
As important as it is for pass-catchers to grow familiar with Simmons’ left-handedness, it’s equally as important for the offensive line to. Starting left tackle Cayden Green has showcased immense versatility as a linemen, starting at left guard in his 2024 season and left tackle in 2025, excelling at both positions.
However, his time at left tackle in 2025 was as a blindside protector for Pribula and Zollers. Drinkwitz already said that transfer Josh Atkins and returner Logan Reichart will be competing for the right tackle, meaning Green won’t be blindside blocking for Simmons.
Regardless, he’s keeping a simple mindset with the task ahead of him.
“I don't know if it changes much for me,” Green said. “My job is still to stay in front of the man in front of me, but it definitely looks a little different on film when it's coming out with a left-handed quarterback versus a right one. But for me, it doesn't change much.”
Simmons being left-handed is far from a disadvantage, rather a mere adjustment that his teammates are willing to and have been making since his arrival.