Vets lead the Mizzou defense into year two under Blake Baker
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
As Blake Baker enters his second season at the helm of the Mizzou defense, his group is being led by veteran leadership.
Baker said Wednesday that he was surprised with the amount of guys that announced they would be staying at MU for another season.
"In all honesty I thought at least half of the guys that came back would be gone," Baker said. "All those guys that came back, I told them its their money year, this is their contract year. They're very focused and there's a hunger about that group and I think it will help set the culture moving forward as well. I really do think they can have a lasting impact on this program.
With majority of the group returning, cornerbacks coach Al Pogue said it not only says a lot about the player's characters, but also about the program itself.
"Those kids have an opportunity to leave if the wanted to, but those kids believe in us and believe that we can take their game to another level so I think that was a big part of the reason that they chose to come back," Pogue said.
Two senior captains that have returned for the 2023 season are defensive lineman Darius Robinson and linebacker Chad Bailey. Both of them are in the same mindset that they returned to Mizzou to complete some "unfinished business."
"I just feel like this was the best position for my life right now, but it was hard," Robinson said. "After the bowl game, I got invited to the combine and I told Coach Drink that I didn't think I was coming back and then I just started thinking more about everything and I feel like I didn't reach my potential on tape and I feel like I can get better."
"I just had unfinished business," Bailey said. "I think I owe it to myself and to Mizzou to come back for one more year and make it happen."
Bailey isn't the only veteran linebacker returning, senior Ty'Ron Hopper will also be back in 2023 and this time with an extra 10 pounds of muscle.
"It felt great knowing that a lot of us guys were going to come back and give it one last shot," Hopper said. "We were pretty good last year, but we left a lot of things on the table so I feel like we can really clean those things up and be a great defense."
The goals that the group have set for this season will not be an easy task to achieve. During spring camp, this group believes they have what it takes to be the best defense in Mizzou history.
"That's the battlecry and I hear them talking, they want to be the best defense that has ever played at Mizzou and there's been some really good defenses," Baker said.
"We challenge those guys a great amount, but at the same time it's like every time we challenge them we get back everything we want," said defensive line coach Al Davis. "They know great players have played here, but if we do better than we did last year we can work towards that goal."
Watch more interviews below with co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach D.J. Smith and senior defensive lineman Kristian Williams during spring camp.
