This player set the tone as Mizzou defense brought energy to Day 1 of fall camp

Missouri’s defense wasted little time setting the tone Monday as the Tigers opened fall camp.

Media members were welcomed to the first seven periods of practice at the Stephens Indoor Facility, where the team worked through individual drills, install periods and early team reps.

Even in a limited viewing window, one player stood out.

Defensive end Zion Young emerged as the loudest and most consistent figure on the field — both vocally and physically. His voice echoed through the facility as he moved between position work and group drills, encouraging teammates, pushing the tempo and holding his unit accountable.

“That’s me. That’s me 1,000%. I come from a big family. I’ve got 10 other siblings. Me being the youngest, I’ve seen it before. I come from a very vocal family,” Young said two weeks ago at SEC Media Days when asked about being a vocal leader. “My dad is ex-military. My mom is more laid back. I come from a very structured family. I’ve always been the youngest. I’m loud. I want to be heard. And over time, it just became me. That’s me.”

Young, now in his second year with the Tigers after transferring from Michigan State, anchored the first defensive huddle and served as the center of Mizzou’s energy throughout the allotted portion of practice open to the media. But his leadership went beyond words. With every rep, he displayed a high motor — leading by example in a way that stood out amongst a defense full of experience.

Young quickly became one of the Tigers’ most productive edge rushers last season and now returns as a cornerstone of a front seven that ranked among the SEC’s best in sacks and tackles for loss in 2024.

That defensive edge was on display Monday despite the lack of full contact. Mizzou’s defense communicated cleanly and flew to the ball during drills.

It was the kind of start defensive coordinator Corey Batoon hoped to see from a unit full with veterans and hungry for more.

“All you’ve got to do is walk in the locker room and look at the names of the great players who played here,” Batoon said during Sunday’s media availability. “There’s a tremendous tradition, especially at the defensive end position.”

Young helped set that tone Monday. Whether leading a team breakdown at midfield or diving on a loose ball during a fumble recovery drill, his presence was impossible to miss.

Teammates mirrored his energy, turning routine reps into competitive moments that sparked reaction from the sideline.

“Zion Young, he’s a real vocal leader,” safety Daylan Carnell said at SEC Media Days. “He’s probably the most vocal leader on the whole entire team, not just the defense.”

Fall camp continues throughout the week, with full-pad practices and scrimmage reps still to come. But after one practice, Mizzou’s defense — and its most vocal leader — appears ready to set the standard.