The Tigers can start to prepare for their trip to St. Louis to face Illinois after the conclusion of training camp on Thursday.

Coach Gary Pinkel was pleased with the team’s effort during the three weeks of practice.

“I thought it’s been a good camp, couldn’t ask really much more of our kids than we got now,” he said.

Thursday’s scrimmage lasted only one hour, 15 minutes, and was held inside the Daniel Devine Pavilion because of rain.

None of the Tigers’ stars took the field, including Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin, William Moore and Sean Weatherspoon. Quarterback Chase Patton sat out with a hamstring problem, Pinkel said. Other players who didn’t participate due to minor injuries included Jared Perry (shoulder), Chase Coffman (finger) and Brian Coulter (ankle).

Just like last year’s final scrimmage, backups got extensive action as coaches decide who will plug the gaps in the depth chart, especially in the young, inexperienced offensive line. While the veteran starters sat out, first-year center Tim Barnes and left tackle Elvis Fisher, who replaced current right guard Kurtis Gregory at the position, played. Tailback Derrick Washington was the only other offensive starter who took the field.

“Overall, I think we’re in pretty good shape,” Pinkel said about the offensive line. “I think we have really good, talented backup players that just need every minute of every practice. And that group’s got to get better, pretty much like our defense a year ago. … And, obviously, we’ve got to be pretty good starting off with whom we’re playing.”

The players who could become Missouri’s future offensive playmakers stood out Thursday. Quarterback Blaine Gabbert got dozens of reps, hooking up with receivers Jerrell Jackson and Gahn McGaffie and tight end Andrew Jones.

Preparations for the season opener will soon begin.

“We’ll evaluate (the film) today, players will look at it tomorrow and when we wake up Saturday morning, we’re getting ready for Illinois,” Pinkel said.

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Pinkel said Jeff Wolfert will handle kickoffs this season. The kicker shared kickoff duties with former punter Adam Crossett last season.

“He’s been kicking off really well,” Pinkel said. “His leg is so strong. … Almost all of his kickoffs have been in the end zone the whole camp.”

Wolfert made all six of his field goal attempts indoors on Thursday, including a 46- and 50-yarder.

Here are more statistics, thanks to MU’s athletic department:

Scoring

Wolfert 29 yard field goal

Wolfert 46 yard field goal

Moore 1 yard run (Wolfert Kick)

Passing

Costello: 8 for 14, 85 yards, (long: 11)

Gabbert: 12 for 21, 103 yards, 1 INT, (long: 33)

Roweton: 1 for 3, 13 yards

Rushing

Moore: 10 carries for 25 yards, 2.5 avg., 1 TD, long 8

Scott: 3 for 20, 6.7, (14)

Jerrell Jackson: 3 for 10, 3.3, (5)

Goldsmith: 3 for (-1), (-0.3), (4)

Jimmy Jackson: 3 for (-4), (-1.3), (0)

Washington: 2 for 32, 16.0, (25)

Reece: 2 for 1, 0.5, (1)

Receiving

Jones: 4 receptions for 34 yards, (long: 14)

Egnew: 3 for 32, (16)

Jer. Jackson: 2 for 29 , (20)

Gissinger: 2 for 22, (15)

Shock: 2 for 20, (17)

Thomas: 2 for 19, (13)

Washington: 2 for 16, (11)

McGaffie: 1 for 33

Goldsmith: 1 for 5

Scott: 1 for 4

Moore: 1 for (-3)