Defensive Line Preview: Can newcomers recreate old depth?

With Mizzou coming off a wildly successful 2023 season, expectations (and roster familiarity) have never been higher. For our annual position preview series, we’re breaking the position groups into three categories: the star player; the best-kept-secret; and the players that will offer much-needed support.

D-line Zou isn’t just a nickname, it’s been a decades-long mantra for Mizzou football. 2023 was a season where the unit lived up to the moniker, ranking 10th nationally in team sacks (39) and 30th in rushing yards allowed per game (122.8). Featuring a first-round draft pick in Darius Robinson and a four-man rotation of veterans on the interior, the 2023 Mizzou defensive line was steady as it comes.

Fast forward to 2024, however, and four of the Tigers’ six defensive line stalwarts have graduated or moved on to the NFL. Eli Drinkwitz didn’t sit on his laurels, though, he went out and pulled in three EDGE transfers, two defensive tackle transfers and another four freshmen to rebuild his defensive front. Add new defensive coordinator Corey Batoon and new EDGE coach Brian Early to the mix, and the Tigers have a lot of questions to answer about how a unit that excelled in 2023 will repeat its performance this year.

The Stars

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The star on the EDGE for this Mizzou team is Johnny Walker, Jr. The Cotton Bowl Defensive MVP enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2023, registering five sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles. With his big junior campaign, the rising senior now has expectations from fans and scouts to repeat or even improve his numbers this season, and there is no reason to expect otherwise.

On top of being perhaps the Tigers’ best pass rusher, Walker is a good run defender and dropped into pass coverage at some points early in the 2023 season. With Walker being a prime candidate to fit in Corey Batoon’s new “Joker” position, expect to see more of that out of the versatile EDGE player, in an attempt to throw chaos and confusion at opposing quarterbacks.

The star along the interior defensive line this season may very well be one of the newcomers in Chris McClellan. The junior transfer from Florida is very large (6-3, 320 lbs.) and had 23 tackles in each of his two seasons in Gainsville, wracking up two sacks total as well. While he has had modest numbers so far in his career, a change in scenery can do wonders for a guy with all the physical tools to be a monster on the interior of the Missouri defense.

The Secrets

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A much more under-the-radar transfer than McClellan, Sterling Webb, may be the secret to replacing the lost depth along the interior of the defensive line. The St. Louis product spent his first two collegiate seasons at New Mexico State and quickly became the bane of CUSA quarterbacks. His sophomore year saw Webb pull in 30 tackles, 4.5 sacks and six tackles for loss, including a TFL in an Aggie upset of Auburn. If the Tigers are going to regain any kind of the consistency they enjoyed in 2023, Webb will play a major role in eating snaps and blocks in Corey Batoon’s defense.

The second secret is a bit more poorly kept, and that is transfer EDGE rusher Darris Smith. The former four-star recruit spent two seasons as an off-ball linebacker at Georgia before transferring to Mizzou last winter. Smith has all the athletic tools in the world to be an elite pass rusher, including size and speed out the wazoo. What makes him a secret is that he has yet to truly play EDGE for any significant snaps in his career. He may not be in the starting lineup Aug. 29 against Murray State, but as the season progresses, look for Smith to earn more and more playing time as he gains comfort in his new role.

The Support

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It feels wrong to relegate a guy with six years and 49 games’ worth of collegiate experience to the “support” role, but that might term might best describe Kristian Williams’ workman-like character and playing style. The veteran is the very definition of consistency, as he led the Tigers’ defensive line in snaps last season and will be a candidate to do the same this year. While his numbers won’t light up the stat sheet, his experience and presence in the position room is as valuable as multiple sacks and tackles.

As for additional defensive tackle support, sophomores Marquis Gracial and Jalen Marshall are the most likely candidates to earn significant playing time as the fourth tackle in the rotation. It’s vital for the depth of the Tiger defense that at least one of these two young men step up and earn playing time to allow Williams, McClellan and Webb to rotate out with more regularity. Redshirt freshman Sam Williams and true freshman Justin Bodford round out the tackle room, but both are likely to spend the year developing for future seasons.

The EDGE room is perhaps the deepest on the roster outside of wide receiver. Michigan State transfer Zion Young will be the third pass rusher who will see a lot of snaps this season. In fact, he may even start opposite Walker in Mizzou’s opener and will serve as a steady, consistent presence for the Tigers. Five-star phenom Williams Nwaneri is already turning heads in fall camp as well. While he may not play significant snaps game-to-game, Nwaneri will certainly see the field this season and will hopefully make an impact early in his career.

The rest of the EGDE room includes veteran Joe Moore and Georgia Tech transfer Eddie Kelly, Jr., both of whom will see the field some in a backup capacity as well as on special teams units. Redshirt freshman Jahkai Lang and true freshmen Elias Williams and Jaylen Brown will likely spend the season developing for future years, with Williams the most likely of the three to see the field this year.