Missouri Tigers

How much does Hansbrough mean to Mizzou?

Published Sep. 24, 2015 8:50 p.m. ET

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Missouri is having a bear of a time running the football in 2015. 

Its collection of backs are averaging a paltry 3.2 yards-per-carry average, which ranks Missouri No. 122 nationally. Missouri is last in the SEC in rushing yards with 107 per game. The offense in general has stagnated to the point of accruing less than five yards per play. To put it simply, something is missing in this equation.

That something missing is senior running back Russell Hansbrough. 

He's the lightning-rod, the fulcrum, the straw that stirs the proverbial drink, and essentially has been the galvanizing force behind the offense for the past several seasons.

From catching passes out of the backfield, to making people miss in space, Hansbrough is an incredibly vital cog on the offensive side of the ball. His return to the lineup versus Kentucky is surely a welcomed sight. The mere presence of Hansbrough opens up many possibilities for signal-caller Maty Mauk. 

The opposition likely will commit more numbers in the box to contain Hansbrough running the football. As a result, Mauk will be afforded more one-on-one situations with his receivers on the perimeter. Additionally, he'll become even more dangerous on zone-read situations. 

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