Mizzou’s D-line rotation could be deeper this season, provided key players step up

The list of defensive line players the Missouri Tigers lost since last season is extensive.

Leading sacker Johnny Walker Jr. and Kristian Williams are on to the next level in the NFL, while Williams Nwaneri, Jaylen Brown, Joe Moore lll and Eddie Kelly Jr. entered the transfer portal.

The loss of Nwaneri potentially could sting the most for the Tigers. Once a five-star recruit and No. 2 defensive end in the class of 2024, the Lee’s Summit product was expected to be a game-changer for the program. The partnership came to an end far sooner than Mizzou had hoped, as he transferred to Nebraska on Dec. 12.

Despite the tough act to find the right replacements, Mizzou’s defensive line isn’t short of depth. In fact, it might just be better. It has a mix of veteran talent and continuity while adding some significant names through the portal. Defensive line coach Al Davis announced his resignation in May for personal reasons, but defensive tackles coach David Blackwell has since taken over the entire unit, with Brian Early remaining as coach of the edge rushers.

“There is a healthy competition in the defensive tackle room, and if our edges are as good as we believe they are, it’s going to only create more opportunities for our defensive tackles with one-on-one blocks,” coach Eli Drinkwitz said in April. “So, really need those guys to continue to move forward.”

The key for the defensive line in 2025 is to find out which players are ready to take a leap forward. The Tigers have the personnel to make that happen; it’s just about seeing it come to fruition on the field.

Balancing a loaded defensive end group

For as many hits as the defensive end position took in the offseason, it sits as one of Mizzou’s deepest. Down the lineup, there is a vast amount of talent.

Missouri got its highest-rated transfer at the position with former Georgia Bulldog Damon Wilson ll. Listed as a five-star transfer by 247Sports, Wilson finished last season with 22 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, two fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles in 14 games of action as primarily an outside linebacker.

The expectation for Wilson in his junior campaign is to be a sack leader for Mizzou. He has the physicality with a 6-foot-4, 250-pound frame to be a serious disruptor against opposing offenses. As a full-time starter, his production should jump significantly higher.

The Tigers are also getting Darris Smith Jr. for the first time. He missed the entire 2024 season with a knee injury after transferring from Georgia and was expected to be a key piece of last year’s rotation. There’s an obvious connection between him and Wilson, which should create a fun dynamic on the line.

“Darris Smith, prior to his injury, was as impactful a defensive end as I’ve been around,” Drinkwitz said.

Zion Young is the returner with the most anticipation building. In his first season at Missouri, he broke onto the scene with 42 tackles, six tackles for loss, 2½ sacks and a pivotal fumble recovery against Oklahoma. The rising senior graded out as a 79.6 defender, according to PFF, including a 79.9 grade as a rush defender.

With a year under his belt in defensive coordinator Corey Batoon’s system, Young will be one of the group’s most important pieces. If he can add improvements to his pass-rush defense, it could take his career to new heights.

Juniors Nate Johnson and Langden Kitchen should be valuable rotational players for Mizzou. Coming from two years at Appalachian State, Johnson put up 34 tackles, four tackles for loss, 2½ sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 11 games last season. Kitchen notched 21 tackles, four pass deflections, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery at Northwest Missouri State in 2024.

Expect incoming freshman Javion Hilson to make a case for burning a redshirt. The four-star recruit is listed as the No. 8 edge and No. 79 player nationally, according to 247Sports, slotting in as a high-potential player that might already be ready for the college game. There’s four-star Deaden Hopkins, too, though he’s less likely to burn a redshirt.

Missouri’s defensive end position is equally exceptional as undecided, which makes it one of the more compelling areas of its roster heading into the year.

Familiarity at DT

Compared to the 2024 group, Mizzou’s defensive tackle rotation is largely similar. It has eight returners from last year’s squad — the biggest loss coming with Williams exhausting his eligibility.

It’s Year 2 of Chris McClellan in Columbia. This time, he’s the expected leader of the position group. Given his experience and long-term production, that doesn’t come as a surprise.

The 6-4, 323-pound senior tallied 39 tackles, six tackles for loss, 2 1/2 sacks, two pass deflections and a forced fumble in 13 games in his first go with the Tigers, grading as a 73.2 defender. As the primary tackle, that production could get even higher.

The other returning senior, Sterling Webb, should remain a productive option. Webb totaled 18 tackles, a tackle for loss and a fumble recovery in 13 games last season, but without Williams, he will likely be asked to step up.

Marquis Gracial, similarly to Young at defensive end, has high expectations this year. Finally earning a meaningful role in the unit during his junior campaign, he wrapped it up with nine tackles and two tackles for loss in 13 games.

With improvements made in controlling his weight over the offseason, Gracial is expected to become a more explosive and disruptive player who could be a driving force behind the defensive unit.

The same opportunity goes for Jalen Marshall. The rising senior finished with just five tackles and a tackle for a loss last season, as his role got cut as the Tigers got deeper into their schedule.

However, he’s shown plenty of flashes in his career and was spoken highly of in the spring.

“Really encouraging challenging both Jalen Marshall and Marquis Gracial to take that next step,” Drinkwitz said. “They’ve been in the rotation and kind of waiting their turn. We don’t need them to wait any longer. It’s their time to play.”

Late in the portal, Missouri added Ohio transfer Bralen Henderson to the mix to up the competition in the locker room. The graduate student is fresh off his most productive season, in which he accumulated 26 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and a fumble recovery in 14 games. He’ll likely insert himself as a high-end reserve.

Returners Elias Williams and Sam Williams will also be in the mix, though they’re both less experienced than those ahead of them. The opportunity will likely present itself for them to get reps during the year, especially if Mizzou’s starters happen to underperform or are injured.

Compared to its counterpart on the defensive line, the defensive tackle group is a little less enticing. Returning as many players as it did is a welcome sight, but it lacks the depth and star power that the edge group carries. If one or two of the returners don’t live up to their intended role, it could spell trouble.

Nevertheless, Drinkwitz and the Missouri coaching staff have remained firm in their belief that the defensive line is well-equipped to perform.

As long as the right pieces fall into place, it could be one of the program’s more proficient groups in 2025.

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