COLUMBIA, MO. • From 1994-96, DeMontie Cross made more tackles than any player in Missouri history. He dragged down his share of star running backs in the final years of the Big Eight Conference and the debut season of the Big 12, including Heisman Trophy winners Rashaan Salaam from Colorado and Ricky Williams from Texas, Nebraska’s Ahman Green and Iowa State’s Troy Davis. Not to mention the Mizzou backs Cross practiced against every day: Devin West, Brock Olivo and Ernest Blackwell.
But as Missouri’s defensive coordinator prepares for Saturday’s opponent, one running back of the past comes to mind when he studies Louisiana State phenom Leonard Fournette.