Mizzou details high expectations for defense at SEC Media Days

ATLANTA, Ga. (KMIZ)

Mizzou Football is setting a high bar for its defense ahead of the 2025 season.

The Tigers, who brought two student-athlete representatives on the defensive side of the football to SEC Media Days, dived into their high standards and aspirations with local and national media.

"We got 20 players that have more than one start in college football, and that's a lot. There's a lot of depth. There's a lot of experience. There's a lot of competition," head coach Eli Drinkwitz said. There's a lot to be excited about, but you know, talk's cheap. We got to do something about it."

MU defensive end Zion Young and safety Daylan Carnell made their SEC Media Days debuts on Thursday morning at the Omni Atlanta Hotel and College Football Hall of Fame. Coach Drinkwitz highlighted them as two of the players, who will be key leaders of the team this season.

"There's no bad teams. There's only bad leaders," Carnell said. "The last two years have been the best two years of leadership we've had, so now that I'm in a bigger leadership role, I just want to continue that."

In fact, Young was recognized as one of the most vocal leaders of the entire program this year.

"Zion brings the juice for everybody. When we're at workouts, it's not just offense or defense, it's everybody. He's that guy. He brings it, you know? That's one thing you know with Zion is your going to get it every day. He's consistent," Mizzou center Connor Tollison said at a press conference.

"I come from a very vocal family. My dad was ex-military," Young said at a press conference. "I come from a very structured family, and I've always been the youngest. I'm loud. I want to be heard, so over time, it became me."

There is experience, depth and talent across the entire defense, especially at defensive end. The Tigers are returning several key starters at that position, including Young, who registered 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a scoop-and-score touchdown last year. MU also added several coveted transfers like former Georgia defensive end Damon Wilson, who was rated as a five-star talent by 247 Sports. Plus, highly-anticipated transfer Darris Smith is back and healthy after suffering a season-ending injury last year. Collectively, the team's defensive end room owns 31.5 tackles for loss and 24 sacks combined in their collegiate careers.

"I asked if [Zion] was going to give up some playing time for [the other defensive ends]. He said no," Drinkwitz said. "There's a lot of really good guys. I think there's a culture in that room. "They're all alpha males, and so, they really all want to work to compete to be the man. That sets a little bit more of a drive to them. There's only going to be two that run out there, so there's a battle for that."

Along with the competition and fresh faces, MU's defense will also have continuity in leadership. The 2025 season will represent the defense's second year under defensive coordinator Corey Batoon, who made great strides in his first campaign with the program. The Tigers boasted the 17th-best unit in total defense last season, which the team hopes to build on with its familiarity in Coach Batoon's scheme.

"I think this year you're going to continue to see an expansion of what his defense looks like," Drinkwitz said at a national media session. "I really just appreciate Corey's low-ego, high-output approach. "He's always searching for the best idea, and the best idea is what's best for our staff and our players and putting those guys in a great position."

Mizzou kicks off the upcoming season on Thursday, August 28 at 6:30 p.m. against Central Arkansas.