Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz revokes football staffer’s access due to brother playing for upcoming opponent

Undefeated Missouri will travel to Kyle Field this weekend for what is expected to be a tough road test when they take on No. 25 Texas A&M. 

As Missouri continues to prepare for the Southeastern Conference tilt, coach Eli Drinkwitz made a somewhat unexpected move this week by informing one of the team’s staffers that they would be barred from attending practice.

Drinkwitz said Brian Reed, Missouri’s assistant director of on-campus recruiting, is “not allowed at practice this week.” The coach cited the presence of Brian’s brother, Marcel Reed, on the Aggies’ roster.

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Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz on the field after the win over the Buffalo Bulls at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia, Missouri, on Sept. 7, 2024. (Denny Medley-Imagn Images)

Reed, a freshman quarterback, could start for Texas A&M on Oct. 6.

Aggies coach Mike Elko said Conner Weigman is considered a “game-time decision.” Weigman was the starting quarterback in the Aggies’ season-opening loss to Notre Dame, but exited a Week 2 game due to a shoulder injury.

A general view of a Missouri Tigers helmet against the Boston College Eagles during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. (Denny Medley-Imagn Images)

Reed has thrown a pass in four of the Aggies’ five games this season, starting in each of the past three contests. Drinkwitz said the coaching staff is gearing its game plan around Reed this week, regardless of Weigman’s status.

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“At this point, I know on their depth chart, it says the other kid is the starting quarterback,” Drinkwitz said.

“But that’s just semantics in my opinion. [Reed] is 3-0 as the starter. Whether he’s listed as questionable or whatever, I don’t see them going back. They’re 3-0, they clearly have a different offensive identity with [Reed] as quarterback, and they’ve developed an offense that fits around his system. It’s a lot different than the first game of the year. If they go with the other one, they go with the other one. But they’ve kind of already built the offense towards Marcel.”

Texas A&M Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed, #10, reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half against the Arkansas Razorbacks at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Sept. 28, 2024. (Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images)

On Wednesday, Drinkwitz doubled down on his stance on Brian’s weeklong practice ban, saying he “wasn’t joking.” Drinkwitz made the comments during an SEC coaches teleconference.

Drinkwitz also acknowledged that the brother-sister relationship created an “interesting dynamic.”

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“It’s created an interesting dynamic,” Drinkwitz said. “At the end of the day, that’s her brother and that’s her blood, and we know that she’s doing her job here. But family is always so important, and so we don’t want her to be in any type of conflict of interest. In fact, I just saw her in the hallway just a second ago. But I’m not letting her in the copy room, and she’s sure not going to have her eyes on the scouting report.”

Drinkwitz also said that prior to Week 3, he was unaware that Brian had a family member who played for Texas A&M. Marcel threw two touchdowns during the Aggies’ 33-20 victory over the Florida Gators that week. 

Drinkwitz is in the midst of his fifth season as the head coach at Missouri. The Tigers landed in the ninth spot in the latest AP Top 25 rankings.

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