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Ennis Rakestraw Jr. Louisiana Tech doesn’t prepare for a team that’s different from an SEC opponent. Any team can rally and win on any given day at Faurot Field.
In some cases, they do on Missouri.
It means a lot to Mizzou fans on Thursday night as the Tigers look to take on Louisiana Tech. It will mean a little more to Rakestraw, the Missouri senior cornerback who is set to make a comeback after suffering a torn ACL last October.
It’s a new year. New expectations are set. One thing Rakestraw refuses to do is allow the SEC branding to make plays against a gritty Bulldogs roster that is more than winning.
“Tempo is one of the main things we’ve seen from these guys,” Rakestraw said Sunday. “They’ve got some dynamic receivers on that side of the ball, a new quarterback who’s a good player … they make a lot of smart decisions.
He studied a pair of tapes as Missouri broke down the Bulldogs’ offense. The first was the 2021 roster that finished 3-9 with Skip Holtz. The second Texas Tech offense and game design came from coordinator Sonny Cumbie, who he named Holtz’s replacement after taking over for Matt Wells at halftime in Lubbock.
The importance of watching the movie Red Rider was not because of the locations, but because of the street concepts. Cumby works consistently in the middle of the field as Tech’s play caller, but isn’t afraid to take deep balls against the right defensive look.
New Bulldogs quarterback Matthew Downing, a transfer from TCU, will have a chance to meet with junior receiver Smokey Harris. Last year, the 5-7 pass catcher led Louisiana Tech in receptions (71), yards (756) and touchdowns (six).
“He’s a dynamic receiver,” Rakestraw said of Harris. “He’s a dynamic guy in the position, and on the outside, he’s got some good releases and great hands. He gets in and out of the break very well.
Rakestraw, a 6-foot, 175-pound cornerback from Dallas, could rule the outfield in 2022. That’s not to say that a player like Harris can’t match up against him on zone coverage breaks or on plays that Cumby picks. On the perimeter.
Rakestraw will want to perform impressively against every receiver he faces Saturday. During the summer, he does one-on-one drills with SI All-American senior receiver Luther Barden.
It didn’t take Rakestraw long to see the talent a player of Burden’s skill could bring to the table. The work ethic has translated into drills during practice and raised Rackstraw’s level of competition in coverage.
“Luther and I are like-minded,” Rakestraw said. “Sometimes we get upset, but it’s always been good for each other.”
One game doesn’t define Mizzou’s season, but a win would start the Tigers off on the right note. Rakestraw will be looking to set the tone against the Bulldogs and show that last season’s flaws remain in the classroom.
If anything, he’s eager to step out and get straight into the field for the first time in 10 months. As a veteran of his playing days in Columbia, Rakestraw hopes every freshman can soak up the moment but keep the final goal close to their chest.
“[Anyone new] They can make a good name for themselves here,” Rakestraw said. I feel like everyone can have a good game with the way we set up and the way we do things.
Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m.
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