He’s never thrown a pass in any football game.

But come next fall, Atiba Bradley will be working with a Heisman Trophy-caliber quarterback.

Bradley, former Missouri Southern linebacker and a student assistant coach with the Lions the last two years, has joined the University of Missouri football staff as the offensive quality control graduate assistant.

“It’s a long title,” Bradley said with a laugh. “I’ll work with the quarterbacks coach, Coach (David) Yost, in day-to-day operations. It will be limited on the field, but I’ll be at all the meetings. All the games, I’ll be in the (coaches’) box with him. This is a great opportunity.”

Coach Gary Pinkel’s Tigers finished 12-2 last season, losing to Oklahoma in the regular season and the Big 12 Conference championship game. The Tigers won the Big 12 North Division crown for the first time and beat Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl, Missouri’s first New Year’s Day bowl appearance since losing to Penn State in the 1970 Orange Bowl.

Quarterback Chase Daniel, who finished fourth in last year’s Heisman voting, returns to direct the offense.

“Hopefully he’s a Heisman Trophy winner at the end of the season,” Bradley said.

Matt Rahl, who played tight end for Missouri Southern from 1999-2001 and served as a student assistant coach in 2002 after a knee injury ended his playing career, contacted Bradley about the position on the MU staff.

“He’s ‘GA-ing’ up there, helping out with the offensive line,” Bradley said. “He knew I was coaching. He called me, and I went up and interviewed.”

Bradley leaves for Columbia in early May to enter graduate school.

“I’d like to go into possibly administration,” Bradley said. “I haven’t completely decided yet. I’d like to coach for a while, maybe be an athletic director.”

“Atiba is a very smart guy,” Missouri Southern head football coach Bart Tatum said. “He’s coached on both sides of the ball since I’ve been here. He’s a bright, bright coach and has been invaluable in ways that nobody realizes.

“He’s taken groups of student-athletes to three different elementary schools this spring to read to students and promote reading. He’s done a number of administrative duties, helping me as a head coach.”

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