Mizzou football reloads ‘Death Row Defense’ for 2026
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Tiger defense has been one of the best in the nation over the past few seasons, and that has no intention of changing in 2026.
Mizzou sent four players from the 'Death Row Defense' to the NFL, and many others from the unit have also moved on, leaving several starting rolls up for grabs.
But head coach Eli Drinkwitz is not concerned with the amount of turnover. Instead, it's the opposite. He and the rest of the coaches have developed home grown talent to be ready to step into this new role.
"I think for me, this gets back to us defensively being, a developmental program," said coach Drinkwitz. "I think Darris Smith and Langdon Kitchen have an opportunity to do what we've done in the past with Isaiah Maguire, Darius Robinson and Zion Young. Those guys were not really known quantities going into their senior year."
Defensive end is not the only position with opportunities up for grabs. Former Tiger Josiah Trotter was taken in the middle of the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, leaving a hole in the middle of that unit. However, returning Junior Nicholas Rodriguez is set to take over as one of the captains on the squad.
"Nick is going to have his opportunity," said Drinkwitz. " It's really going to be his opportunity to be a leader on the defense, and he's a captain for us represents our team the right way."
"It's not just me, it's Cayden. It's Dom. It's all of Death Row, all Ambush. We're all working together to strive for a common goal. I'm obviously blessed to be in this position, and I'm grateful for it," said Rodriguez when asked about the new position.
In his sophomore year, Rodriguez recorded 62 tackles, 27 of them being solo. Now with added opportunities, he's primed for a breakout season. Couple that with time learning under one of the best linebackers in the country from 2025, and it's sure to be a recipe for success.
"Trot was a great person, a great player, he was always there for us," said Rodriguez. "We worked together, we strived together, we sharpened each other's tools. But, it's just like another day. Just take another step and I'm just grateful for the opportunity that he left behind him."
That pattern of stepping up where great players left a hole is something that is common across the entire defense. A majority of the team will be made up of returners that have taken the new responsibilities to heart, and want to keep the standard of Death Row exactly where it has been.
"We got the conglomeration. Now it's just about bringing them together. Letting those guys learn to trust each other and how they play," said Drinkwitz. "I'm very excited about what that defensive room could do."
Up Next - Mizzou's football season will get underway when they face Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Thursday, Sept. 3, with kick off set for 7:00 p.m.
