Big 12 football: Mizzou’s Blaine Gabbert tough

Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert won the respect of his coaches and teammates last season when he played through a badly-sprained ankle.

“He did a tremendous job,” said Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel. “With the input of our medical staff, he said he could play, and he played, and he battled through that. That said an awful lot about him. I thought he did a lot of good things.

“I expect him to up his game with the experience factor. You know, the position requires you have to deal with pressure. That’s just the way the position is. We know that.

“But I think your focus is not on the pressure. Your focus is on playing the best. And I think that I expect him to have a really good year. He has a chance to be a great player, and we’re excited about him getting going this year.”

Gabbert goes into the season ranking with Texas A&M’s Jerrod Johnson as the league’s premier quarterbacks.