Dominick Giudice's Transition to Center is Paying Off Early On

Object of the offensive line. Another one of the big shifts that Missouri's offensive line experience is the transition of Dominic Giudice from left tackle to, or not left tackle, left guard to center. That one is more expected. Obviously, Connor Tollison was a four-year starter at center. He exhausted his eligibility back after the season ended and Missouri knew he was going to be gone. So this is one they had months and months to prepare for. This isn't a middle of summer camp thing that you gotta scramble and figure out. They're prepared. And they turned to Dom Giudice, who had played a little bit of center at Michigan, started every game at left guard last season for the Tigers, and now moved to center. Zach, what's kind of the importance of Dom Giudice playing center and filling the shoes of Tollison, and what's going to be another important role on the offensive line? Yeah, well, I think last year, obviously, he didn't have a perfect season, but also I think we were a little spoiled with seeing seasons from Trost. Obviously, Caden Green as well. So he did have an overall solid, he had an overall good season there at left guard. That's why he has the chance to go here and play center now. And I think it's honestly the best, it's the best case scenario, without a doubt. Because with Tollison, you had a guy that has this consistency that has been a four-year starter. And Giudice is, in his last season, and he has played a lot of college football. Obviously, with Michigan, he's had experience before at this position, and he is one of the leaders, as Drinkwood said, in SEC media days of this team. So it's exactly the guy that you want snapping the ball, and I feel pretty confident in Giudice here, even though he didn't play this position last year for the Missouri Tigers. But we have seen guys switch their positions like Caden Green last year, and it did go well when you have consistent veterans that are leaders of the team. Well, and Drinkwood, saying his praises at SEC media day, said that he was proud of Dom, did an excellent job on the transition from guard to center. And then he's also done a good job as a leader, and kind of establishing the identity on the line. Which, he's not the longest tenured guy at Missouri. Guys like Peigler, Wilson, Green have been here longer. But as the center, you kind of got a quarterback to offensive line. Yeah, I think that's really good to hear that Dom Giudice has taken a step. Obviously, he was named a spring captain, which doesn't always guarantee, but you can assume he'll probably be named a captain for the season. So that's good, having your center as a captain. Obviously, Tolleson was last season as well. And so Giudice not only seeming to make the smooth transition individually and positionally-wise, but making the transition, and to kind of being that leader on the offensive line. And that's going to be even more important now that it's going to go through a bit of a shake-up with that right tackle spot. So I think that's really good to hear, that it sounds like the Giudice transition is going well, and there's no question on like, hey, could Tristan Wilson maybe start here? No, it's Giudice. He's got it locked down. That's good to hear. Yeah, without a doubt. And I think, I mean, we've spent a lot of time speculating what, who the starters are going to be, and that was our guess, and that was our hope, and now it's been confirmed. So that's really solid news for the Missouri Tigers.