Mizzou looking to bring back ‘Death Row Defense’ in 2026
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Mizzou football is hoping to return one of the team's biggest successes from 2025.
The Tigers are entering year three under defensive coordinator Corey Batoon, and are hoping to carry over their success from the first two years. During his stint in Columbia, he's transformed this desense into one of the most terrifying in the entire country.
"I mean, football coaching wise, it's always like a search for better, finding better ways to build a mousetrap." said Batoon. "Every offseason you're kind of looking at ways that, hey, how can I how can I teach that? And then you kind of reshape these things."
You can watch the full press conference with Batoon in the video player below.
With the era of the transfer portal, the team has brought in dozens of new faces to this defense, and immediately being able to shape the culture. While some of that comes from the coaching staff, much of it must come from within the locker room.
Nicholas Rodriguez has stepped into a new leadership role in his junior year, being named defensive captain for spring practices. He's been able to mentor up some of the younger players the way that Josiah Trotter and Khalil Jacobs did with him.
"Being able to guide the younger guys that have been here, the people that's been here and just just to be able to go out there and, you know, show the standard and show them what it is to be a Missouri Tiger," said Rodriguez. "It's been great, but it's not just me. At the end of the day, it's the whole team."
You can watch the full press conference with Rodriguez in the video player below.
Defensive lineman Marquis Gracial has also stepped up as a leader in spring camp. Having come through the Mizzou system, he's been able to demonstrate how this unit operates and why they've been so effective.
"Even from years ago, like D-Rob, Christian Williams, the way they work every day and like now that I'm in their shoes, I'm in that position just leading by example and showing those younger guys how it's done here," said Gracial.
You can watch the full press conference with Gracial in the video player below.
But the freshman aren't the only ones to be dawning the black and gold this season. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz brought in 13 transfers on the defensive side of the ball. For coach Batoon, he's studied these guys to ensure they're the right fit, and has been enjoying being able to work them into his system.
"Spring has been really cool. In regards to seeing these guys, a lot of them from the transfer portal, you know, you watch them on tape, you see them in drills, and now we get an opportunity to go out and actually work with them on their craft."
With all these additions to the defensive side of the ball, it would be easy to fall behind or still have some reservations coming from other schools. But each of these guys has shown they're ready to buy in, and fight for the Tigers.
"[There's] a lot of new faces. All of them [are] very eager right now," said Batoon. "I mean, five practices and we're just still learning, how to do things right. But right now, tremendous buy in, thus far, very happy with the effort."
