Missouri football’s Tuesday morning practice offered a hint to an afternoon announcement.

Lined up in the middle of all players, as the Tigers went through stretches before the practice on Faurot Field, were five team veterans: quarterback Brady Cook; wide receiver Theo Wease Jr.; defensive end Johnny Walker Jr.; linebacker Chuck Hicks; and defensive tackle Kristian Williams.

The Tigers announced later in the day that those five players will be the Tigers’ team captains for the 2024 season, which in recent years has been decided on by a team vote and went through the same process this season.

Mizzou received the No. 11 ranking in the country in both the US LMB Coaches Poll and the Associated Press Top 25 in the past couple weeks, a spot that, if it holds, will have the Tigers in a tight race for a spot into the College Football Playoff in its new 12-team format.

The Tigers begin their season on Aug. 29 against Murray State on Faurot Field in Columbia. When that game rolls around, five players will be wearing the capital ‘C’ patch on their jersey.

Cook is entering his final year of eligibility, which will mark his third full season as the team’s starting quarterback. He has long been lauded by head coach Eli Drinkwitz as one of the team’s foremost leaders, and will be a team captain for the third straight season.

The QB out of St. Louis won his second straight quarterback competition last season, and proceeded to throw for 3,317 yards, 21 touchdowns and five interceptions to cement his spot as the Tigers’ undisputed starter.

Wease, who is in his second season with Mizzou after transferring from Oklahoma, also received a recent recommendation from his head coach.

“I cannot say enough how fortunate we are for Theo Wease,” Drinkwitz said. “I think his maturity and wisdom in that room was really the glue that's brought us together.”

The wide receiver was one of Missouri's most impactful additions last season, as he put up 682 receiving yards and six touchdowns, all while splitting touches with Luther Burden III.

Hicks is beginning his seventh season of college football and his fourth year with Missouri. He began his career at Wyoming, and has played 20 games with 53 tackles, 11 of which for loss, since coming to Columbia.

Williams figures to be one of Missouri’s most oft-used defensive tackles in 2024, his final season of eligibility. The 2022 Oregon transfer has played in each of the Tigers’ 26 games since joining and represented the team at this year’s SEC media days alongside Cook and Burden.

Walker has spoken frequently throughout the offseason about stepping into more of a leadership role as former team captain and 2024 NFL Draft first-rounder Darius Robinson begins his professional career with the Arizona Cardinals. Walker was named the Cotton Bowl defensive MVP during a December win over Ohio State, capping his first season as a full-time starter with 43 tackles, including 9.5 for loss, five sacks and three forced fumbles.

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This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: These 5 players will be team captains for Missouri football in 2024 season