Missouri football spring camp: One question facing every position on defense this spring

Posted by author February 27, 2025 Football

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Spring camp is just a day away for Missouri football.

Mizzou begins its spring practices Friday, which will mark the start of Corey Batoon’s second season as the Tigers’ defensive coordinator. Missouri fielded the 20th-ranked defense nationally last season, allowing 20.4 points per game.

The Tigers added nine new players on the defensive side of the ball out of the transfer portal during the offseason, many of whom look likely to fill open roles. Due to graduation, the Tigers will be replacing eight starters and key players in the rotation on defense from the team that went 10-3 and won the Music City Bowl last season.

With spring camp on deck, here is one question facing every position on the Tigers’ defense as the team begins its offseason practices:

Missouri football’s defensive ends: Is room as deep as it looks?

It’s an odd suggestion to say the room that’s losing its leading producer (Johnny Walker Jr.) — and two freshman blue-chip talents (Williams Nwaneri, Jaylen Brown) — could be the deepest on the team.

But, there’s a claim to be made for Mizzou’s defensive ends entering the 2025 season.

Zion Young will return and likely keep his starting role at the field end position. If former Georgia transfer Darris Smith can return from a 2024 season-ending knee injury sustained in August, that will feel like a new transfer. Eddie Kelly Jr. and Jakhai Lang both had impressive moments when called upon last season.

And look at what Mizzou is adding. Georgia transfer Damon Wilson II is 247Sports’ No. 2-ranked overall transfer in this cycle; Javion Hilson is a top-50 prospect in his signing class; and Appalachian State transfer Nate Johnson is a former freshman All-American

On paper, that’s quite the group battling for reps. Now, will what’s on paper translate to production?

Defensive tackles: Which returner takes next step?

Mizzou is leaning on in-house development at defensive tackle, as the Tigers did not add a transfer at the position in the winter portal window.

With starter Kristian Williams now graduated, that means MU is trusting its returners to take up the mantle. Players like Marquis Gracial and Jalen Marshall both saw significant playing time last season, but now likely need to be ready to be core parts of the rotation with Williams gone.

Chris McClellan and Sterling Webb both are set to return, which should settle two spots in the likely four- or five-player rotation. Redshirt freshman Elias Williams and redshirt sophomore Sam Williams also figure to be vying for reps.

Linebackers: Does Mizzou have a star in Josiah Trotter?

Missouri was consistently solid at linebacker last season, but missed a true standout at the second level.

Have the Tigers found that in Josiah Trotter, a West Virginia transfer?

Trotter was a freshman All-American with the Mountaineers, recording 92 tackles and a pick last season. His father played for the Philadelphia Eagles, and his brother just won a Super Bowl with them in his rookie year.

The Tigers bring back Triston Newson due to the NCAA’s eligibility waiver for former junior college players, and Khalil Jacobs also can return after sustaining a season-ending injury midway through last season. That’s a couple solid returning pieces at outside linebacker.

Corey Flagg, who was perhaps MU’s best player in the room last season, will be tough to replace at middle linebacker, and the role likely will fall in the hands of Trotter or Nebraska transfer Mikai Gbayor, another intriguing portal add.

Cornerbacks: Can Mizzou find CB2?

Mizzou was inconsistent at cornerback last season, highlighted by a season-long back and forth for the second starting job between Toriano Pride Jr. and Nicholas DeLoach Jr.

Dreyden Norwood seems likely to resume his role as a starter, but the player who lines up across the field from the returning senior is still uncertain.

Missouri added Washington State transfer Stephen Hall, who will likely compete with Pride and DeLoach for primary reps. The Tigers also bring back Ja’Marion Wayne, Shamar McNeil and Cameron Keys.

There is still a lot that is unknown about how Missouri will line up here in the fall.

Safeties: How do transfers fit into formation?

This room is filled with newcomers, as the Tigers added three transfers to replace three outgoing members of its 2024 rotation.

Mizzou uses three safeties in its base package, with a boundary, field and hybrid-linebacker/safety ‘Star’ player. Daylan Carnell returns as the iron-clad starter at the star position, and Marvin Burks Jr. was the starter on the boundary.

Presumably joining the rotation in some capacity is third-team All-American and UNLV transfer Jalen Catalon, and the Tigers also added Virginia Tech transfer Mose Phillips III and Northern Illinois safety Santana Banner.

Spring camp should shed light on how the Tigers plan to use each transfer, but the expectation is that each player will find a role as Mizzou retools the room.