Mizzou football looks to dominate the trenches again in 2026
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
The Tigers have been one of the most impressive and consistent teams on the offensive and defensive lines for the past few seasons.
Mizzou has finished with one of the best rushing attacks in the nation in 2025, finishing inside the top 10 in rush yards per game. With much of the same personnel in that backfield, they'll look to keep that production up in the new season.
However, a running back can only be as good as the offensive line blocking for him, and the Tigers have one of the best. Returners like Cayden Green and Dominick Giudice make the front five one of the most experienced groups on the roster.
"We put in so much work throughout the offseason," Giudice said. "There's no doubt in our capabilities and what we could do."
Giudice spend the summer transitioning from center to guard, and has become the voice of the offense. With a new quarterback and offensive coordinator, having the consistency in the middle of that unit is a large responsibility, but it's one the senior is prepared to take on.
"it's a big responsibility, but I enjoy it honestly," Giudice said. "Having prior experience on the defensive line, just being able to have some understanding of defensive schemes and things like that, being able to see some things and also just learning and growing from Coach Jones and other coaches on the O-line."
On the other side of the line, the Tigers have found similar success. Mizzou also finished with one of the best defenses in the league last year, allowing just 277 yards per game. A major contributor to that success was the defensive line, and being able to pressure quarterbacks early and often.
The senior pairing of Darris Smith and Langden Kitchen have been receiving high praise from head coach Eli Drinkwitz throughout the summer, and he expects them to follow in the footsteps of guys like Zion Young and Damon Wilson.
"For me and Langden, I feel like we're pretty close because this is our third year together," Smith said. "Me and Langden talk a lot, everytime we're in the film room we're talking about what se could do or what we could get better at."
Up Next - The Tigers open their season against Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3 at Faurot Field.
