If they’re on the depth chart, they probably played a snap on Faurot Field.

In Missouri football’s 51-0 victory over Murray State to open the season Thursday in Columbia, the Tigers used 71 players to get the job done and complete the rout. That’s everyone on offense and defense listed on their unofficial, preseason depth chart — and then some.

The game was done and dusted by the time starting quarterback Brady Cook and Co. left the game midway through the third quarter, but there were positives from the supporting cast, who completed the shutout and kept the offense ticking.

Here are three takeaways from MU’s second-half reserve reps, and what those mean for the Tigers moving into the remainder of 2024:

Is Missouri football’s defense deeper than anticipated?

It was the main question coming out of fall camp: When Missouri has to dive deeper than its listed defensive starters, is the less experienced cast ready to rise to the occasion?

That means players like defensive tackle Marquis Gracial, who finished the day as one of six Mizzou players with a tackle for loss, part of four total stops.

Players like redshirt freshman Nicholas DeLoach at cornerback. He was quiet on Thursday. The good kind of quiet.

“I know he had that one key pass breakup on third down. … He had a pretty good perimeter play in the second quarter,” Drinkwitz said, “but, you know, outside of that, I don't remember anything, which is probably good for a (defensive back).”

Players like the 10 freshman MU used on its final defensive series to close out a shutout.

“I think, other than (sophomore safety) Philip Roche, it was all freshmen on the field,” Drinkwitz said. “And, man, that is going to be one heck of a defense in the future. Really proud of those guys and thought they came in and played to a standard.”

At the risk of overreaction, now seems like a good time to take a step back and remember it was a severely overmatched Murray State team. But a lot of Power-conference teams played overmatched FCS opponents in Week 1. Not many — or any — did what Mizzou managed.

Only Missouri held its opponent to less than 100 total yards of offense, allowing just 85 yards in the opener. Only Missouri held its opponent to less than 50 passing yards, as the Racers managed just 27 yards through the air. Only Missouri held its opponent to as few as five first downs.

The Tigers turned to their backups, rotational pieces and reserves to close the door on the shutout. They were up to the task in Week 1.

More: Why dominant day for Missouri football defense, even vs. Murray State, bodes well for success

Drew Pyne capable of leading Tigers in emergency

Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz, after one week of fall camp, said that transfer quarterback Drew Pyne had a “great understanding” of the offense.

On Thursday, the backup showed he did.

In Pyne’s quarter-and-change of work, he picked out wide receiver Daniel Blood five times and all over the field, found Marquis Johnson on a pair of quick outs and expertly sold a handoff and completed a pass to tight end Tyler Stephens on a screen.

Fireworks? No. But Pyne's release was quick, his timing was more or less spot on and he had a good understanding of where to find his receivers.

Mizzou kept moving as he went 10-of-11 passing for 82 yards and led a pair of drives from inside the Tigers’ own 20-yard line to the opposite red zone.

Ignore his QB-keeper on his first snap, which in Cook’s hands in all likelihood would have crossed the goal line.

“Didn't show a ton of athleticism on that quarterback run,” Drinkwitz joked postgame.

Jamal Roberts took a handoff into the end zone on the next play, for what it’s worth. When Pyne came back out, he completed eight straight passes.

In an emergency, Missouri looks like it has a capable QB2.

“I thought he played an excellent half, made some really good decisions, showed toughness,” Drinkwitz said. … “Just making great reads, you know, putting the ball exactly where it needs to be. So, really impressed with him.”

More: What should we make of Missouri football’s offense in Week 1? Three takeaways

Kewan Lacy flashes at running back

Freshman running back Kewan Lacy was involved in one drive Thursday, and he made the most of his shot.

Lacy took five carries for 42 yards — 8.4 yards per touch — in Missouri’s final offensive series of the day. He ran for three first downs in the process.

The manner in which he did it was every bit as impressive.

Lacy put the spin move on some Racers and brushed off a tackle; he demonstrated a great burst of pace off the mark; and, on his final carry, he checked his run, assessed, and took a different path for positive gain.

The challenge for Lacy was — and still certainly is — finding playing time with a pair of veteran running backs ahead of him in Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll, who themselves had productive first showings in Columbia.

But if you had to guess based on Thursday’s outing, Lacy’s reps are not done for the year. Only Noel, who had 11 carries, outrushed the freshman in the season-opener.

“Lacy, … he's gonna have a hell of a career, man,” MU linebacker Corey Flagg said postgame. “Great player. Very patient. Gets downhill quick. He just has a nose for the game.”

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: 3 takeaways from Missouri football’s reserve reps in opening day win