“Honestly, I don’t know where we’ve been picked since I’ve been here,” Pinkel said. “I don’t want to disturb anybody here, but I don’t ever read newspapers, ever. If you picked us first or third or fourth or fifth, it would have no impact on me at all.”

It’s clear Pinkel means what he says. The Tigers were slotted sixth in the East by the media in 2012 before reaching Atlanta and moved up to fourth last year before again winning the East.

Pinkel holds the same approach with recruiting. When asked about the Tigers’ mid-level recruiting rankings, Pinkel explained he has never used the star-method that websites and blogs feature. His coaching staff instead focuses on evaluation and what the prospects could provide.

Reloading on the defensive line:

Missouri lost a pair of talented pass rushers from 2014 in Markus Golden and Shane Ray. Although there were hopes that Harold Brantley could fill the gap, a car accident in June sidelined the junior for the upcoming season. While Pinkel’s plans have changed since the wreck, he still believes this group of defensive lineman can make a difference for the defense.

“We have to make some adjustments there, understanding we’re losing a great player,” Pinkel said of Brantley. “We’ve been known to have a lot of high level defensive linemen, and I think that will continue.”

Pinkel named Kentrell Brothers, Charles Harris, Josh Augusta and Ricky Hatley as players that need to perform at a high level in the fall. The Tigers defenses had stellar defenses in the last two seasons, and it’s important they find similar success if they want another shot at the SEC championship.

Receivers to watch:

Missouri junior quarterback Maty Mauk praised sophomore Nate Brown and expects big things from him in the future. Brown was a four-star recruit from Suwanee, Georgia who had limited play for the Tigers in 2014. He finished his freshman campaign with five catches for 45 yards in nine games.

“I think Nate Brown is going to be a name that the SEC is going to get used to hearing, whether it’s this year or the next two or three years,” Mauk said. “He’s a guy that’s six-foot-three, knows how to get open, has tremendous hands and can up and get balls. There’s multiple things he can do; we just have to get him experience.”

The Tigers have produced several talented wide receivers during the Pinkel era. Mauk believes Brown can join a list that includes names like Dorial Green-Beckham and Jeremy Maclin.

Keeping pace with the SEC:

Missouri has only one losing season since joining the SEC . Part of it is due to the school’s commitment to state-of-the-art facilities, which Pinkel demanded when the school left the Big 12.

“If you’re not committed to build and doing the right things, then don’t get in the league because they’ll just swallow you up,” Pinkel said. “I kid our alumni saying that if you don’t see a crane up [on campus], there’s something wrong. You’ve got to always see cranes.”

The Tigers have utilized a $30 million donation three years ago to make the necessary upgrades. Based on the team’s results since that time, it appears Pinkel correctly pinpointed what his team needed to compete.