Mizzou unsure who may play among trio of freshman receivers

Missouri receivers coach Andy Hill claims he does not yet know which, if any, of three heralded freshman pass catchers will bypass a redshirt season in 2010.

“We’ve got no clue who those guys are going to be,” Hill said of Bud Sasser, Jimmy Hunt and Marcus Lucas. “It depends on who is healthy for us, and who is playing the best.

“Right now, I think all of our guys need to be more consistent. The freshmen all the way to the juniors.”

Lucas, on Wednesday morning and for the second time in a week, rose up in the right corner of the end zone and caught a fade pass from Ashton Glaser. But after practice, it was clear that Lucas, from Liberty, knew he needed to step up.

Lucas has generally caught most passes thrown his way, but he hasn’t really turned heads in August drills. He knows that being solid may not mean playing time in September.

“I don’t think that is the way to go,” Lucas said. “You always want to set yourself apart. Being 17 days away from kickoff, you’ve got to start to do different things, just to set you apart from the rest of the pack.”

Hunt was the most impressive receiver in the early days of camp, but he’s been sidelined for nearly a week because of a left-ankle sprain. With his foot still in a boot on Wednesday, he didn’t look to be a candidate to play in Thursday morning’s second full scrimmage of preseason practice.

“I’m all right,” Hunt replied when asked about his ability to get back on the field.

Coach Gary Pinkel said it didn’t help that Hunt was not cleared by the NCAA to join the team until July, and that he has missed significant practice time in August.

“He missed all the teaching you got from the older players," Pinkel said of the summer players-only sessions. “He was doing really well, but it is going to be more, for him, `Can he learn this stuff?’

“Missing this whole week puts a lot of pressure on him.”

Sasser, meanwhile, looks to be in the best position of the three.

Running pass routes seems to come naturally to Sasser, who is from Denton, Texas. He’s healthy and appears to be the most upbeat about his chances of playing in 2010.

“I think I’ve stood out enough that they see me every day going out here trying to get better and better,” Sasser said. “On blocking. On routes."

Pinkel said a decision on redshirting some freshmen will be made after Thursday’s scrimmage, but others will have to wait a few more days.

NO AFTERNOON PRACTICE: Pinkel called off the second of two scheduled practices on Wednesday, treating the players to a trip to the movies. The choices were: “The Other Guys” or “The Expendables.”

THURSDAY SCRIMMAGE: Unlike the marathon scrimmage last Saturday, when each of four units were given up to 50 plays each, Thursday morning’s full scrimmage is planned to give 35 plays to the first three units and fewer to the fourth stringers.

Pinkel, who has run a largely open camp, has shut off pictures and video by the media starting immediately after warm-ups for the scrimmage.

INJURY UPDATE: Redshirt freshman Kerwin Stricker’s groin and ankle injuries are being further examined. Stricker had moved up to a second-string position but was limping noticeably on Wednesday as he trudged to the locker room.