SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE FOOTBALL MEDIA DAYS

July 20, 2026

Cayden Green

Missouri Tigers

Press Conference

Q. Coach just confirmed to us on the main stage that Ahmad has been cleared to return to practice this week. What does that mean to have him back in the lineup?

CAYDEN GREEN: Oh, that's awesome. I didn't know that. So that's pretty exciting. But, yeah, I mean, it will be nice getting him back with Mal. And, you know, that 1-2 punch it will continue.

Q. Just kind of talk about your journey, being a Lee's Summit North guy, staying the course seeing the success that you've had here at Missouri trying to finish that finish out your career and then go on to the next level, just kind of what this whole thing has meant to you?

CAYDEN GREEN: Oh, yeah, it's awesome, getting to play in front of, like, the home crowd two hours away from the house, that's awesome. You dream of that as a kid.

Q. With this upcoming season, what are you most looking forward to?

CAYDEN GREEN: Just getting to play with the guys one last time. That will be awesome. That was an opportunity I couldn't really pass up. So that will be awesome.

Q. We've heard a lot from Jamal and Coach both about how the O line has been really operating as a unit and has really impressed over the spring camp. What do you have to say about that unit and how you guys have been operating?

CAYDEN GREEN: Yeah, I'm excited. I don't think anybody in the country has outworked us. So I'm excited to see the fruits of that labor, because we're getting it in every day. There's never a day that goes by we're not doing something to get better.

Q. A lot of history of great running backs at Missouri. As an offensive lineman does that put pressure on you or do you look at that as opportunity?

CAYDEN GREEN: Yeah, I definitely think it makes our job a little easier. A lot of teams, they're so worried about the run. It kind of makes throwing the ball easier.

We've got two backs that make guys miss. So that definitely makes stuff easier. You get beat every once in a while, you know you've got a guy back there that's going to break a tackle or two -- takes two, three guys to bring them down. So it makes our job a little easier.

Q. Talk about Austin Simmons and what he's bringing to the table. Obviously as a left-handed quarterback, what kind of difference does that make for blocking schemes? And what's that been like acclimating with him?

CAYDEN GREEN: Austin, he's great. He really likes his O line. We hang out all the time. He takes us out to eat. He hosts us. He's a great leader, great energy. As far as us, I don't think it changes much for us. Our mentality, every play, we go in to win every play.

I don't think it changes much for us, but he's been a great addition to the team.

Q. What's the importance of being able to to be coached in two different positions?

CAYDEN GREEN: Yeah, I think it's very important. I got my position moved probably about two weeks before the season last year. If I wasn't training multiple positions that would have been a lot rougher transition.

So I think it's very important and even for the next level, they don't carry very many guys on the NFL roster, so you've got to be able to do more than one thing.

Q. We were talking to Coach earlier and we were inquiring if you were going to move back to the right side and Coach said, and I quote, "Cayden Green is our left tackle and he's going to be the best in the country." What do you have to say about that?

CAYDEN GREEN: Well, I mean, I appreciate Coach for believing in me. He always believes in me. And yeah, I appreciate him for keeping me on the left side.

Q. Is that any different for you now with a left-handed quarterback, you're going to be on the strong side, as opposed to blocking the blind side. What difference does that make for you?

CAYDEN GREEN: Yeah, like I said, I mean, it doesn't make much of a difference. My job's still the same. My job is to win, regardless of who's back there, regardless of where I'm at on the line. So it's pretty much the same thing for me.

Q. Sometimes games come down to where you have to run the ball to win the game. When you're able to successfully do that, keep the clock moving, is that a great feeling for a lineman?

CAYDEN GREEN: Yeah, absolutely. It's pretty demoralizing for defenses when you're getting five, six, seven yards a carry and there's nothing anybody can really do about it.

Q. Do you have any fun pregame rituals or superstitions that help you lock in for a big game?

CAYDEN GREEN: I don't. I try to get a fast twitch in before every game. Other than that, I'm ready to go after that.

Q. You've played in two different programs in the conference. Are there any particular road places you've enjoyed going?

CAYDEN GREEN: Oh, man, I don't know if I've had a single bad experience on the road. Like all those stadiums are really loud. The fans are crazy. I think the loudest stadium I played at was probably Jordan-Hare last year, we went to Auburn and played in that overtime. My ears were ringing after it. I don't think I've had a bad road experience.

Q. Is there any place on the road you haven't been that you're going to this year?

CAYDEN GREEN: I haven't been to Georgia, Ole Miss. We've been to Mississippi State. Yeah, probably just those two, so I'm excited to see what those two are like.

Q. What's one thing that you hope to pass on to the younger guys and future Missouri football players?

CAYDEN GREEN: I hope that they can take notes of how we work, and how every day there's something you can be doing to improve. I hope they carry that on next year.

Q. You're a Kansas City guy like me, so you get the rivalry with KU, right? So you guys had an electric atmosphere beating Kansas last season at Faurot Field. Now going on the road to Kansas in a stadium that's not quite finished, kind of a small capacity on a Friday night, what's that going to be like kind of making the return trip to play in Lawrence?

CAYDEN GREEN: Yeah, I'm expecting it to be rocking. Our stadium wasn't finished last year either when we played them. So that game was still rocking for us. So I expect the same thing for them. We're playing on a Friday night. I don't think anybody else is playing that night, so it should be really fun.

Q. Going into your final year, what do you need to work on specifically if you're going to make it to the next level? What are you looking to improve on?

CAYDEN GREEN: This year, I'm looking to improve on my hands. I feel like if I can improve on my hands, that will elevate my game a lot more. So that's been a big emphasis this offseason.