Missouri Tigers pick up third defensive line transfer with Oregon’s Kristian Williams

The Missouri football team has picked up a third defensive line transfer this offseason in former Oregon defensive tackle Kristian Williams.

Williams, from Memphis, Tennessee, announced his commitment to Mizzou on Tuesday evening after visiting over the weekend.

He started in two games in his most productive season last year, with 16 tackles and a pass breakup. He played 25 total games at Oregon.

Entering his fourth year of college football, the 6-foot-2, 287-pound defensive tackle still has three years of eligibility left.

A three-star recruit coming out of high school, Williams could help provide depth along the defensive line, where Missouri struggled against the run last season.

Williams joins Oklahoma State transfer Jayden Jernigan and Baylor transfer Josh Landry as recent defensive line additions for the Tigers.

The three transfers are expected to compete for playing time alongside seniors Darius Robinson, who started six games last season, and Realus George Jr.

After a midseason coaching change last season, firing defensive line coach Jethro Franklin and promoting defensive analyst Al Davis to the position, the Tigers’ run defense improved from 129th in rush yards allowed to 80th in the FBS.

Making strides off the field

The Missouri football program posted its highest academic progress rate (APR) since the measurement was first used by the NCAA 18 years ago, with a mark of 983.

Four Mizzou sports, including women’s basketball, women’s cross country, women’s golf and women’s tennis, posted perfect APRs of 1,000. The national average is 984, while the Tigers’ programs averaged 990.

APR gives a point for each student-athlete that remains eligible and a point to each that stays in school or graduates.

This story was originally published June 15, 2022 at 11:04 AM.