To Hyrin White’s mom, Tracy, the praise sounded like an insult.
Offensive coordinator Derek Dooley approached the mother Saturday after Missouri’s win over Purdue. He told her he didn’t notice Hyrin, the second-string left tackle, during the game.
“‘No, no, no, I’m complimenting him!’” Dooley recalls saying when Tracy looked offended. “We didn’t have to change our calls. … He prepared really well last week, he practiced hard, and he took advantage of his opportunity.”
White replaced first-team left tackle Yasir Durant after the starter sprained his ankle in the second quarter. Pro Football Focus, a college and NFL Draft analysis site, gave White a higher grade than any of Missouri’s offensive players, including star quarterback Drew Lock.