Sunday Sit-down with Mizzou defensive coordinator Corey Batoon

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

ABC 17 Sports Director Nathalie Jones brought on Mizzou football's first-year defensive coordinator Corey Batoon in this week's edition of Sunday Sit-down. The pair discussed Batoon's vision for the 2024 Tiger defense and what brought him to Columbia.

The former South Alabama d-coordinator joined head coach Eli Drinkwitz's coaching staff in Jan. 2024, after former DC Blake Baker left MU for LSU. Batoon said when the position opened up, he knew it was something he had to try for.

"I think as an outsider looking in you see the potential of a place and what they've been able to do in a short period of time here with Coach Drink," he said. "Obviously, last year, having a great season, but still having, you know, a lot of those pieces intact, and the expectation playing in this in this league is different. You know, we've always wanted to get back into this league, and, and what a tremendous opportunity."

Batoon added that he feels like his style of play mirrors what's been done in the past at Mizzou. In the first few months of his time in Columbia, he worked on familiarizing himself with the scheme, the system and the language, as Coach Drinkwitz said he wanted to keep some continuity for his returning players.

The expectations for those returning players will be similar to what they've had in the past, as well: an attack-driven defense.

"We want to try to create those havoc plays, we want to try to play with tremendous enthusiasm, playing as fast and as physical as we can be," Batoon said. "Opportunity wise, you know, third downs, creating those type of momentum plays...I mean, those are the things that they've done here in the past, right. That's kind of where the standard is...Hopefully, we can kind of continue to develop that."

Batoon isn't looking too far ahead, in terms of Tiger kickoff in August. He said his emphasis right now is making the most of every opportunity the team has.

Spring camp was a big opportunity to see where they were at and now the work is just beginning.

You can watch ABC 17 Sports Director Nathalie Jones' full conversation with Batoon on SportsZone a 10:30 on KMIZ.