Torey Boozer, a backup Missouri linebacker arrested on drug charges during the 2012 season, has been dismissed from the team.

Team spokesman Chad Moller says the redshirt freshman linebacker is no longer a member of the Tigers. He declined further comment.

Boozer was arrested in October on marijuana possession charges along with classmates Dorial Green-Beckham and Levi Copelin after the three teammates were reportedly smoking pot in a campus parking lot near Memorial Stadium.

Boozer later pleaded guilty to second-degree trespassing, as did his two teammates, who remain on the squad. He was listed as third-string on the team’s most recent depth chart.

Earlier this week we gave you a serious look at Missouri pitcher Chelsea Thomas’ career statistics. Today, we present the not so serious approach.

We don’t know if Thomas ever read Dr. Seuss’ “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” but she probably never imagined all the places she’d go and things she’d do as a pitcher for Missouri. Or — the many different batters she’d face.

KBIA’s Karl Roskamp pored over the names of the many Thomas has struck out, walked, allowed to get a hit off her or maybe were hit by one of her 70 mph pitches. The names fall into a number of interesting categories, we just thought we have some fun with it.

Thomas and the Tigers face the Washington Huskies tonight and Friday in the best-of-three games Super Regional. The winner moves on to the Women’s College World Series, May 30 – June 5 in Oklahoma City.

Keeping runners off the bases has led to the majority of games she pitches ending with the opposition scoring one run or less. All but one of her games has ended with six or fewer runs.

In the Regional tournament last weekend she picked up two more wins and 16 more strikeouts. Her ERA is 1.14. Missouri hosts Washington in the Super Regional beginning Thursday night, a chance for Thomas to add to these numbers.

Here’s a look at where she ranks among Missouri pitchers, some of the awards and honors she has won and how she has performed over her career, in strikeouts and runs allowed per game.

• Thursday, 8 p.m.  (ESPN)
• Friday, 5 p.m. (ESPNU)
• Friday, 8 p.m. (if necessary, ESPN)

Nicole Hudson (8) is congratulated by teammates Mackenzie Sykes (4) and Jenna Marston (26) after scoring. Missouri beat Hofstra 5-0 in the second game Sunday, May 19, 2013, to win the regional tournament at University Field in Columbia, Mo.

Missouri needed both games on Sunday to defeat Olivia Galati and the Hofstra Pride.

With Nicole Hudson in the pitching circle, the Tigers were unable to score a run, losing 10-0 in five innings. Missouri managed just four hits while Hofstra had nine.

By Sunday’s second game, Galati had pitched every inning of their four other games, throwing 459 pitches in 34 innings and Missouri was able to take advantage of her fatigue. Missouri’s Kelsea Roth and Nicole Hudson hit home runs in the 5-0 win.

This will be the sixth straight Super Regional tournament for Missouri, hosting No. 11 Washington in a best-of-three series that will start either Thursday or Friday.

Washington hosted the Seattle Regional, beating Portland State and Hawaii twice to win the regional.

Missouri beat the Huskies in their 2011 super regional.

The winners of the four Super Regional tournaments advance to the Women’s College World Series in Oklahoma City. Those games start on May 30.

Chelsea Thomas pitches with Hofstra’s lead-off hitter Chloe Fitzgerald watching from second base. Thomas was able to hold on for the shut-out victory.

Even though the Hofstra Pride jumped on Missouri pitcher Chelsea Thomas from the very first batter, Thomas was able to get timely strike outs to earn the 1-0 shutout in the Columbia Regional Saturday.

Thomas, who did not pitch in Friday’s game, struck out seven, walked two and allowed eight hits in the win. Missouri’s defense put up one run on one hit, benefiting from a Hofstra error.

Princess Krebs scored the run for the Tigers in the bottom of the third inning. Krebs reached first on an error, was advanced to second on a bunt by Carlie Rose and scored on a hit by Emily Crane.

Hoftstra won its game against Stony Brook 6-0 to advance to Sunday’s game with Missouri in the double-elimination tournament. If Missouri loses the 1 p.m. game, the two teams will play again for a scheduled 4:30 p.m. game.

If Missouri wins the Regional it will host the Super Regional next weekend.

Friday, May 17
Hofstra 2, Oregon State 0
Missouri 3, Stony Brook 0
Saturday, May 18
Missouri 1, Hofstra 0
Oregon State 6, Stony Brook 0
Hofstra 8, Oregon State 4

Sunday, May 19
1 p.m.: Missouri (37-11) vs. Hofstra (45-12)
4:30: Missouri vs. Hofstra (if necessary)

Sheldon Richardson

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Sheldon Richardson used to return kicks and punts in high school, which really wouldn’t be all that intriguing until you look at him.

The defensive lineman is 6-foot-3 and 295 pounds, hardly fitting the prototype of a game-changing returner.

Sure, Richardson was just a bit smaller back then, but he’s still pretty fast for a big man. And that sideline-to-sideline speed excited the New York Jets enough to draft the former Missouri star in the first round two weeks ago.

“I was always the chubby kid in class that everybody picked on,” Richardson said during a break at rookie camp over the weekend. “I was, and I played with a chip on my shoulder. I still feel like I’m the same kid. I like to do what skinny guys do. (If they) dunk a basketball, I want to jump as high as (them) and dunk a basketball.

“I happen to be able to dunk a basketball because of it. I have fun. I’m a kid out there.”

And it certainly shows. Since being drafted, Richardson has been a bundle of energy on the field with a perky personality, and an inviting smile off it. He acts as if he’s been in the NFL for years, far from the timid approach that many rookies take.

Then again, it’s still just rookie camp and they haven’t worked with the veterans yet.

“These past few days, it’s been good,” Richardson said. “I can’t complain. I’m in the NFL, dawg. I’m embracing the moment. That’s exactly who I am. I don’t try to put any added pressure on myself. The media might try to stir up stuff and try to put pressure on me or whatever, but I’m already having fun.”

While nearly all the media attention has been on quarterback Geno Smith during rookie camp, Richardson has impressed his coaches with some solid practices.

“On defense, it’s pretty obvious who popped out there,” coach Rex Ryan said after the rookies’ first practice Friday. “I mean, Sheldon Richardson was good. I don’t want to put expectations too high, but, yeah, he was impressive to say the least.”

Richardson was a first-round draft pick – unlike Smith, who was a second-rounder. But the big defensive lineman wasn’t even the Jets’ first selection. That was cornerback Dee Milliner, who was taken No. 9 overall — four spots ahead of Richardson.

Milliner hasn’t practiced, and probably won’t fully participate until training camp in July as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery. Milliner, a two-time national champion at Alabama, has been working with trainers as he tries to be ready to compete with Kyle Wilson for the starting spot opposite Antonio Cromartie — a role once held by Darrelle Revis.

“We’re roommates right now and we’re cool, man,” Richardson said of Milliner. “Real laid back. Everybody’s trying to make the Darrelle Revis comparisons with him, and he’s not trying to be Darrelle Revis. He’s trying to make his own name. We’re all trying to make names for ourselves.”

So far, so good for Richardson.

After the Jets took Milliner at No. 9, they debated whether to go for Richardson or Smith at No. 13, the pick New York acquired from Tampa Bay for, yep, Revis.

While many expected the Jets to go for an offensive playmaker or a pass-rushing linebacker, Richardson was New York’s choice – a mild surprise.

“They said they wanted to add speed to the defense and improve the interior rush,” Richardson said. “I guess I was the perfect fit for them.”

On paper, though, it didn’t seem to be the case at first. The Jets have mostly played 3-4 style fronts on defense under Ryan, but will be looking to play more 4-3, especially with the depth they’ll have. Richardson joins a defensive front that includes two other first-rounders in Muhammad Wilkerson (2011) and Quinton Coples (2012).

“As a player, this guy is special,” said Jeff Bauer, the Jets’ director of college scouting. “We had a lot of scouts that looked at him and he just jumps off the tape. This is a defensive tackle who made plays 20 yards down the field, sideline-to-sideline, and his motor is non-stop. He’s going to make an impact here quickly.”

Richardson was a star at Gateway High School in St. Louis, racking up 19 sacks and also catching 27 passes for 541 yards and eight touchdowns as a tight end. And, of course, the kickoff returns.

“It’s just funny to me, man, to think about that,” he said, laughing. “That was stressful.”

Richardson went to the College of the Sequoias in California for two years, and then transferred to Missouri. He was a standout on defense for the Tigers, too, but his loquacious personality got him in some trouble during the week of the Georgia game last season, when Richardson said the Bulldogs play “old-man football.”

Georgia won 41-20, and Richardson apologized to Bulldogs coaches after the game — insisting he meant to say “old-school” football and not “old-man.”

He was also suspended for Missouri’s game against Syracuse in November for breaking an unspecified team rule.

Richardson has moved on from all that, calling them learning experiences, and is ready to show how serious he is about making his mark in the NFL.

“I’m still looking to improve my motor and my technique,” he said. “I want to make sure I fit the playbook and the playbook fits me, this way I can still do my thing and still play within the defense. That’s how I like to play.”

COLUMBIA — Production did not live up to the hype last fall for Dorial Green-Beckham, the teenage sensation already known better by his three initials before arriving at Missouri.

Dorial Green-Beckham (15) runs for yards after the catch against Kentucky in 2012.

This year, the Tigers are hoping, will be DGB’s true coming-out party.

Freshman year was a mixed bag for the player rated the No. 1 prospect in the nation by several services. Immediately plugged into the mix rather than taking a redshirt year, he was not the difference-maker that Tigers needed on a 5-7 team.

Missouri anticipates a player in the mold of Julio Jones and A.J. Green — long, lean, rugged speedsters who hit the ground running in the SEC and became top 10 NFL draft picks and pro stars after three years in college.

But Green-Beckham wasn’t all that last year. He made just one start in the fall, finished fourth on the team with 28 receptions and got limited playing time.

“The only goal that I’ve got,” Green-Beckham said, “is to be the best player I can be and push myself, no matter what.”

In 2008, Jones and Green made their college debuts, and both were showered with national awards for what they did. Jones was AP freshman of the year at Georgia with 58 catches for 924 yards and four touchdowns with three 100-yard games. Green was the SEC coaches’ freshman of the year after making 11 starts and setting school freshman records with 56 receptions and 963 yards.

The big-play chops Green-Beckham flashed this spring has coaches convinced he’s over growing pains and ready for the fast track.

Coach Gary Pinkel saw maturity from a player who’s had the total package for a while now.

“He’s a different guy,” Pinkel said. “He catches the ball so well, he can turn an average play into a big play, and I think we’re starting to see really how good he can be.”

The 6-foot-6, 220-pound Green-Beckham also drew rave comparisons to Calvin Johnson and Andre Johnson coming out of Hillcrest High School in Springfield, Mo. Missouri first offered him a scholarship at age 15, and DGB rewarded the school’s doggedness and stayed in-state, declining offers from Alabama, Texas and Oklahoma.

Since arriving, there’s been no star treatment. Green-Beckham was behind senior starter Marcus Lucas for the spring game.

But he’s not the only Top 10 recruit who struggled last year.

Florida redshirted defensive tackle Mario Edwards, ranked No. 1 overall by ESPN, Alabama safety Landon Collins made no starts, and the highlight game for Florida State defensive tackle Eddie Goldman was three tackles with one for a loss against Wake Forest. Notre Dame’s Davonte Neal managed one catch for a 5-yard loss.

On the top end, Georgia running back Keith Marshall had 759 yards rushing with eight TDs and was SEC offensive newcomer of the year, Texas running back Johnathan Gray had 701 yards rushing and three TDs, and Florida offensive tackle D.J. Humphries made three starts and was all-SEC freshman.

DGB did not put up huge numbers in the annual Black and Gold game last month, with three catches for 49 yards. But his 35-yard catch and run over the middle was among the highlights, and he was much more at ease talking to reporters, too.

“Just a guy feeling like he knows what he’s doing,” new offensive coordinator Josh Henson said. “He’s getting more comfortable with executing his assignments, and he’s getting the ball, he’s getting open and making plays.

“And I think all those things lend to your personality coming out, feeling more comfortable in your skin.”

The spring game offered plenty of teaching points, too. Henson said Green-Beckham’s route could have been run “a lot better” on a pass that was intercepted and added DGB must learn to combine body control and ability consistently.

“He’s got great talent,” Henson said. “He’s got to learn to use it every snap, every down, every time. He does that, he’s going to have a chance to be a great player.”

Despite the limited looks last year, Green-Beckham had a team-leading five touchdown catches and a 14.1-yard average hinted at the blend of elusiveness. The numbers paled in comparison to prodigious production in high school, when he set a national prep record of 6,353 yards receiving and 75 touchdowns and racked up 119 catches and 24 touchdowns his senior year.

Missouri gave most improved awards at every position, many of them to under-the-radar players who climbed a notch or two on the depth chart. Though very much on the radar, DGB was the pick as most improved wide receiver.

“Last year took a lot of pressure off me, going out there and learning quickly as the game went by,” Green-Beckham said. “As spring ball went by, I’ve learned and become that player that everybody wanted me to be.

“My confidence level is really high right now.”

He’s a fan of new offense, expected to be somewhat simplified after season-long struggles last year with wide receivers lining up on the same side. Under Henson, promoted after four seasons as co-offensive line coach, it’s also likely there’ll be faster play-calling, far fewer empty backfields and not as many designed quarterback runs.

“I mean, it was really good,” Green-Beckham said. “There’s a lot of positive things that he has up his sleeve that we’re going to use this upcoming season.”

The variable Green-Beckham can’t control is who’s throwing to him. Senior James Franklin is coming off a disappointing, injury-plagued junior year and will have to outplay challengers Maty Mauk and Corbin Berkstresser in August to keep his starting job.

After grading all the practices and scrimmages and the spring game, Henson said the coaching staff has “an opinion in our minds” about the QB competition.

“I like the variety of all of them,” Green-Beckham said. “I mean, they’ve all got good arms and they’re all going to make positive things happen when they step on the field.”

That’s got to be DGB’s aim, too. Between now and September, Missouri wants the phenom to really step up.

“He can be a lot better than what we’re seeing right now,” Pinkel said. “You take all summer, and then all August. We should see a considerably different guy than we saw a year ago.”

Missouri basketball coach Frank Haith.

MIAMI — A federal judge has denied a petition by Missouri basketball coach Frank Haith, who wanted to subpoena Bank of America employees to determine if his checking account was illegally accessed by an unauthorized person during the NCAA’s investigation of Miami athletics.

Haith was Miami’s basketball coach from 2004-2011. He filed his case Monday, saying he wanted bank employees interviewed and any relevant evidence preserved after it was discovered last October that someone accessed his records and viewed items that the NCAA was specifically seeking copies of during its investigation.

But U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenbaum said Haith had no basis for such a request and that he “failed to satisfy the requirements” needed for a successful Rule 27 petition, a tool used by parties try to collect things such as testimony or evidence that could be used in a future lawsuit. Rosenbaum also ordered the case closed.

Haith’s attorney, Michael Buckner, said he respected the ruling, though was disappointed.

“What is important to note about the Court’s order is that it did not rule on the merits of coach Haith’s legal claims,” Buckner said. “In fact, the order concludes that the current NCAA enforcement case is not a bar for coach Haith pursuing his claims against Bank of America in federal court. The question remains to be answered is, ‘Who accessed coach Haith’s bank account?’ We remain committed to finding the answer.”

Buckner said Haith’s legal team will continue “exploring all options available to him, including, but not limited to, filing a lawsuit against Bank of America.”

Rosenbaum’s ruling does not affect the status of the Miami-NCAA investigation, which has gone on for more than two years and is finally scheduled for a hearing before the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions starting June 13 in Indianapolis.

Haith’s petition revolved around who may have seen records of three checks that he wrote for $3,200 each to former assistant coaches Jorge Fernandez, Jake Morton and Michael Schwartz. The checks were dated June 10, 2010, all were drawn on the account of Frank Haith Enterprises, and all included the word “Camp” in the memo line.

All three checks were cashed at a Bank of America location near Miami’s campus. Haith said the checks were payment for work at his summer basketball camp. The NCAA, however, alleged that the money was used to repay former Miami booster Nevin Shapiro — the convicted felon who is serving a 20-year federal prison term for operating a $930 million Ponzi scheme.

Shapiro has said he provided $10,000 to help with the recruitment of former Hurricanes player DeQuan Jones.

And Jones’ recruitment is a significant part of the NCAA’s case against the Hurricanes. The NCAA alleged that Morton received at least $6,000 in supplemental income from Shapiro between October 2007 and October 2008, and in response to that claim the NCAA has asked Miami to provide an overview of how Jones was recruited.

Further, in the notice of allegations against Miami, the NCAA said “it is alleged that after June 10, 2010″ Haith “failed to promote an atmosphere for compliance within the men’s basketball program.” That is the same date the three checks were written by Haith to the assistant coaches, and the NCAA said Haith did not make Miami officials aware that Shapiro was demanding money or else he would make public a claim that he paid to help recruit a player.

Haith has denied that those checks were used to repay Shapiro.

The NCAA asked Haith for copies of those checks on Oct. 22, the same day Haith’s wife asked the bank for the information. She was then told by the bank that someone had already viewed those checks.

Haith has tried to ascertain who that was ever since.

Rosenbaum wrote that Haith’s petition needed to be denied and the case would be closed for a number of reasons, including that he did not demonstrate that anything currently interferes with the ability to bring a lawsuit against Bank of America and that he did not show there’s any risk of evidence related to his account records being lost or destroyed by the bank.

Without that, Rosenbaum said, the Rule 27 petition could not go forward.

Missouri’s Chelsea Thomas capped off an award winning year by being named pitcher of the year. Photo by Karen Mitchell

Missouri pitcher Chelsea Thomas and catcher Jenna Marston were named Southeastern Conference Pitcher of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year, respectively, as voted by SEC head coaches.

Thomas and Marston also earned First Team All-SEC honors and Thomas was named to the SEC All-Defensive Team.

Thomas led Missouri with a 13-4 record with a 1.70 ERA in league play, putting her first and second in the SEC in those categories respectively.  She had a league-best 19 conference starts and held SEC opponents to a .176 batting average. In her career, Thomas has been elected Pitcher of the Year for her conference three times, First Team All Conference three times and All Defense once.

Marston has a 3.99 cumulative GPA as an industrial engineering major.  She earned Capital One First Team Academic All‐American recognition last season and has received Capital One Academic All-District honors three times in her career. Marston was also First Team Academic All-Big 12 honoree in 2011 and 2012.  For the season, she batted .371 with a team-high 18 runs and 26 hits in league play.

The series of awards come after no Missouri players were selected to win preseason awards in the SEC.

The Tigers are scheduled to play on Thursday at 3 p.m. against Arkansas in the SEC Tournament at John Cropp Stadium at the University of Kentucky.

2013 SEC Softball Awards:

Player of the Year
Lauren Gibson, Tennessee

Pitcher of the Year
Chelsea Thomas, Missouri

Coach of the Year
Tim Walton, Florida

Freshman of the Year
Bianka Bell, LSU;
Geri Ann Glasco, Georgia

Scholar-Athlete of the Year
Jenna Marston, Missouri

First Team All-SEC
P – Chelsea Thomas, Missouri
P – Hannah Rogers, Florida
IF – Lauren Gibson, Tennessee
IF – Raven Chavanne, Tennessee
IF – Madison Shipman, Tennessee
IF – Paige Wilson, Georgia
OF – Kayla Braud, Alabama
OF – Kat Dotson, Tennessee
OF – Kaylee Puailoa, Georgia
OF – A.J. Andrews, LSU
C – Jenna Marston, Missouri
DP/U – Lauren Haeger, Florida

Second Team All-SEC
P – Rachele Fico, LSU
P – Kimmy Beasley, Arkansas
IF – Samie Garcia, South Carolina
IF – Kelsey Stewart, Florida
IF – Bianka Bell, LSU
IF – Kaila Hunt, Alabama
OF – Haylie McCleney, Alabama
OF – Kelsey Horton, Florida
OF – Branndi Melero, Auburn
OF – Jacee Blades, LSU
C – Griffin Joiner, Kentucky
DP/U – Mel Dumezich, Texas A&M

Freshman All-SEC
P – Kelsey Nunley, Kentucky
P – Chelsea Wilkinson, Georgia
IF – Kelsey Stewart, Florida
IF – Bianka Bell, LSU
IF – Geri Ann Glasco, Georgia
IF – Emily Carosone, Auburn
OF – Haylie McCleney, Alabama
OF – Kaylee Puailoa, Georgia
OF – Kristi Merritt, Florida
OF – Andrea Hawkins, Alabama; Tiffany Howard, Auburn
C – Kellsi Kloss, LSU
DP/U – Cali Lanphear, Texas A&M

SEC All-Defensive
P – Chelsea Thomas, Missouri
C – Griffin Joiner, Kentucky
1B – Morgan Estell, Auburn
2B – Lauren Gibson, Tennessee
SS – Madison Shipman, Tennessee
3B – Raven Chavanne, Tennessee
LF – Kayla Braud, Alabama
CF – Haylie McCleney, Alabama
RF – Kat Dotson, Tennessee