Mizzou football coaching staff excited by veteran defensive squad entering
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COLUMBIA, Mo. — Only one player from the Southeastern Conference’s most-improved defense is auditioning at the NFL Scouting Combine this week in Indianapolis, but that doesn’t mean Missouri was short on talent or depth last fall.
Most of the Tigers stayed home — much to the surprise of their coaches.
In the age of college sport’s transfer waiver combined with the push and pull of both the NFL draft and name, image and likeness incentives, Mizzou’s defense should be hailed among the SEC’s big winners in the annual offseason roster shuffle. Impact upperclassmen returned to campus. Promising underclassmen followed their lead.
Did the Tigers expect so many players back for 2023?
“Absolutely not,” second-year defensive coordinator Blake Baker said this week as the Tigers kicked off spring practices. “I thought, in all honesty, at least probably half of the guys that came back would be gone. It was a pleasant surprise.”
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Defensive lineman Darius Robinson passed on an invitation to the NFL Combine for another college season to enhance his 2024 draft stock. All-SEC linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper wasn’t satisfied with his feedback from the NFL and made the same choice. In the secondary, safety Jaylon Carlies, regularly tagged as the team’s fastest player, could have turned pro, along with cornerbacks Kris Abrams-Draine and Ennis Rakestraw Jr.
Missouri Tiger new defensive line coach Al Davis, left, cheers as Missouri Tigers defensive back Jaylon Carlies (1) intercepted a pass during a football game between the Missouri Tigers and the Texas A&M Aggies on Saturday, Oct. 16, 2021 on Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium in Columbia. Photo by Laurie Skrivan, lskrivan@post-dispatch.com
Other seasoned returners include tackles Jayden Jernigan and Kristian Williams, linebacker Chad Bailey and safety Joseph…
Read More: Mizzou football coaching staff excited by veteran defensive squad entering 2023-03-03 01:18:00