r/miz

Wishing Ahmad Hardy a speedy recovery

As the athletics calendar comes to a close and we start to shift our focus to next football season, I want to do weekly position group previews leading into Fall Camp. Hopefully this will spur some discussion on this sub over the Summer and help the fanbase get to know the team a bit as there are a ton of new faces.

I want to start with defensive end.

Who Left

On the surface, this group took a huge hit:

- Defensive captain Zion Young is off to the NFL.
- Sack leader Damon Wilson took a pay day at Miami.
- Nate Johnson transferred to Auburn
- Javion Hilson transferred to Virginia Tech

That’s 4 out of the top 7 snap leaders from last year and almost 80% of your sacks from this position group out the door.

Who Stayed

While a lot has walked out the door, the cupboard was not left completely bare.

1.) Darris Smith returns as the leader of this position group. Coming back from a torn ACL last year, Smith started off slow, but came on strong in the back half of the schedule. Of Smith’s 15 total tackles and 4 sacks, 8 tackles and 3 sacks game in the second half of the season.

Part of what ailed Smith was the inability to add strength rehabbing from injury. Smith played last season at 232 pounds and was often eliminated from plays by SEC tackles as a result.

However, word out of Spring ball was Smith has added 10 pounds of muscle and was dominating in both individual and team drills.

Here is a quote from DE Coach Brian Early:

“Has made an enormous jump this spring. Freaky speed & athleticism @ 6'6 254. Added 10 lbs. of muscle in the offseason. Now an every down player.  19 is a DIFFERENT BREED."

Smith will be the key player to watch at DE. A second year leap to help fill the hole left by Wilson will be imperative to this group finding success.

2.) Langdon Kitchen appears to be the favorite to start opposite of Smith entering his second season with the Tigers.

Kitchen was fourth in snaps at DE last year, providing good depth behind Zion Young at the edge spot. He finished the year with 13 tackles, 0.5 sacks and four QB hurries.

In a more highlighted role in Mizzou’s bowl game, Kitchen had a season high four tackles and a QB hurry.

Playing the EDGE role for the Tigers, Kitchen will be asked to play a strong role against the run game. That is where he will make his impact as an early down stalwart for the Tigers.

3.) Daedan Hopkins enters his true sophomore season primed to make a big impact for the Tigers. The former 4* recruit saw limited action for the Tiger last year.

However, when pressed into duty against Mississippi State due to injury and ejections, Hopkins flashed all-world potential. Hopkins finished that game with six tackles, a TFL and 0.5 sacks and gave Tiger flans a glimpse of why he’s the future of DL Zou.

Expect Hopkins to be in the mix at the JACK position and provide high-quality depth.

Who Transferred In

1.) Malik Bryant: Limited heavily by injury last year as a Junior for Miami, Bryant transfers into Mizzou looking to improve upon a promising Sophomore season where he totaled 17 tackles, 5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks and three QB hurries.

Rated at a Top 50 recruit out of high school, Bryant has NFL potential and will look to make a name for himself in the SEC. As a converted linebacker, expect Bryant to compete with Smith and Hopkins for snaps at the JACK position. As a former linebacker, also look out for him to help as a potential drop back threat covering the flats on passing downs.

2.) Demarcus Johnson: The #2 JUCO transfer in the Nation comes to Columbia sporting a 6-7, 275 frame.

This physical freak of nature redshirted at Hutchinson last year to get ready physically for SEC ball. But as a freshman, he posted an outstanding stat line of 29 tackles, 8.5 TFLs and four sacks.

Johnson is an obvious fit at the EDGE position. JUCO players are always tough to project. But expect Johnson to compete for a two deep spot there.

3.) Kamauryn Morgan: A late add to the portal class this Spring, Morgan got his academic paperwork ironed out and Mizzou swooped in to steal the talented edge from Virginia Tech.

The former Top 247 EDGE played as a true freshman for Baylor, totaling six tackles. If Morgan can get up to speed, expect him to also compete for a two deep spot at EDGE.

3.) Jaden Jones: Yet another guy expected to be in the mix at EDGE. Sensing a theme?

The former JUCO talent played in all 12 games for Florida State last year, starting three and totaling 7 tackles, 1 TFLs and a pass breakup.

While I expect Jones to be more of a depth option, he is a veteran with P4 football starting experience. That is great to have as a third or fourth option off the bench.

5.) CJ May: Yet another former 4* EDGE coming from Louisville. May transfer in from Louisville. While he may not make a big impact this year, look for May to be a Special Teams standout and get some defensive snaps as the season goes along. This is one to look out for as a future star on the DL for Mizzou.

6.) Cavan Tully: Probably won’t make an impact on defense. But the Houston transfer was a Special Teams stalwart for the Cougars. Expect him to make an impact there.

High School Recruits

1.) Jocques Felix: Top 20 talent out of Missouri coming to Mizzou from Cardinal Ritter. Not sure if his future is at Edge or DT given his 6-3, 275 frame. But either way, don’t expect to hear his name for a few seasons.

Projected Depth Chart

I think the starters are set. But expect some exciting position battles to play out for a two-deep spot over Fall Camp. Taking a stab at what the depth chart may look like:

Edge: Kitchen/Morgan/Johnson/Jones

JACK: Smith/Bryant/Hopkins/May

Outlook

On the surface, one would expect this room to take a step back. Losing a team leader and stud like Zion Young as well as a potential future first-round pick in Damon Wilson is going to leave a mark.

I don’t think there is any one player that is going to replace either of those guys.

However, there is a lot to like about this room. Smith appears poised and ready to step into the spotlight and be a premier pass rusher in the SEC. This is something Mizzou has been good about. They always have the next guy ready when a guy leaves for the pros or portal. I’m confident Smith will take that mantle.

The depth appears stronger to me than last year as well. Behind Kitchen and Smith, the staff brought in five Power 4 transfers as well as a JUCO standout in the portal. I feel strongly that bringing in this volume and level of talent (while largely unproven) is a smart strategy. The proof is in the pudding. Stack enough Blue Chip talent and you will win out in the long run.

Overall, I can see a slight step back from this group. It would be foolish to expect a replication of what Young and Wilson provided. But as a committee, I still envision this group having a strong campaign and being an asset for Mizzou.

What are everyone’s thought on the DE Room?

Alexa: play Mr. Brightside

First let me say this is going to be as objective as possible but this will be all weighted since the SEC in football and basketball is considered to be the best conference in college sports.

Eliah Drinkwitz Dennis Gates

1st season: 5-5 B 1st season 25-10 A
2nd season 6-7 C 2nd season 8-24 F
3rd season 6-7 C 3rd season 22-12 B
4th season 11-2 A 4th season 20-13 B
5th season 10-3 B
6th season 8-5 B

GPA (Non weighted) 2.83. GPA (Non weighted) 2.5
GPA (Weighted) 3.66. GPA (weighted) 2.75

Laurel, Mississippi, police have told local media outlets there that a 20-year-old man was arrested last night in Paducah, Kentucky in relation to last weekend's shooting that injured #Mizzou RB Ahmad Hardy and one other person.

No charges have been filed in Mississippi and Kentucky court records are not available online. The man is currently being held in the McCracken County jail in Kentucky.