The players Mizzou football might call on to replace 10 draft-bound defensive players

What a year in Columbia.

Missouri football head coach Eli Drinkwitz earned a raise and extension. So did offensive coordinator Kirby Moore.

The Tigers will need to replace defensive coordinator Blake Baker, who took the same position at LSU over an extension at Mizzou … and they’ll need to replace plenty of the players who started for him.

Of Missouri’s 12 players who have declared for the draft, 10 players started or played a significant role on MU’s defense in 2023-24. That’s a significant amount of production from the team that held Ohio State to three points in the Cotton Bowl.

It’ll be a tall order, but the Tigers are already at work.

Here is who the Tigers will need to replace on the defensive side of the ball in 2024, and some potential options:

Defensive end

Leaving for NFL Draft: Darius Robinson; Nyles Gaddy

Prominent expected returners: Johnny Walker Jr.; Joe Moore III

High school newcomers: Williams Nwaneri; Jaylen Brown; Elias Williams.

Transfer newcomers: N/A

Darius Robinson will be hard to replace. The fifth-year senior and team captain, in his final season in Columbia, was practically Mr. Missouri. He stuck out some rough years, switched positions to fill a gaping need, and through it all led the team in sacks (8.5) en route to MU’s 11-2 season and Cotton Bowl win over the Buckeyes.

Big shoes.

But if anyone’s gonna fill ’em …

Five-star prospect Williams Nwaneri, a consensus top-five recruit in the nation, will join the Tigers’ edge rushing staff in the fall.

The plan appears to be to slot Nwaneri into the lineup immediately, as Missouri hasn’t turned to the portal to add any more ends. Fellow true freshmen Jaylen Brown and Elias Williams arrive in Columbia as four- and three-star prospects, respectively, with some potential openings in the lineup.

Returning defensive ends Joe Moore III and 2023 breakout and Cotton Bowl defensive MVP Johnny Walker Jr. both have two remaining years of eligibility and figure to play frequently.

Defensive tackle

Leaving for NFL Draft: Realus George Jr.; Jayden Jernigan; Josh Landry

Prominent expected returner: Kristian Williams

High school newcomer: Justin Bodford

Transfer newcomers: Chris McClellan; Sterling Webb

Missouri cycled through four defensive tackles in 2024. Three are leaving.

Realus George Jr. and Josh Landry ran out of eligibility, and Jayden Jernigan declared one year early.

That leaves just Kristian Williams, who hasn’t announced he is returning in 2024 but is widely expected to do so.

Florida transfer Chris McClellan and New Mexico State transfer Sterling Webb should walk right into some reps upon arrival, with the room looking a little thin.

Missouri’s staff has been high on St. Louis native Marquis Gracial and Kansas City-area product Jalen Marshall, but neither have earned significant reps in their short college careers. As it stands, that could be due to change in 2024.

Linebacker

Leaving for NFL Draft: Ty’Ron Hopper; Chad Bailey

Prominent expected returners: Triston Newson; Chuck Hicks

High school newcomers: Brian Huff; Nicholas Rodriguez

Transfer newcomers: Corey Flagg Jr.; Darris Smith

Ty’Ron Hopper and Chad Bailey, when they were both healthy, were at the top of Missouri’s depth chart.

When they weren’t healthy — which lasted nearly the entire season for Bailey — Triston Newson and Chuck Hicks had big shoes to fill, but mostly did a stellar job. Both will return in 2024 — Hicks for a seventh season in college football.

And the Tigers are adding plenty to help the workload.

Miami transfer Corey Flagg Jr. and Georgia transfer Darris Smith almost certainly will enter the rotation. Four-star prospects Brian Huff and Nicholas Rodriguez ought not to be too far behind as the Tigers lost several reserve linebackers to the transfer portal.

Cornerback

Leaving for NFL Draft: Ennis Rakestraw Jr.; Kris Abrams-Draine

Prominent expected returners: Dreyden Norwood; Marcus Clarke

High school newcomers: Jaren Sensabaugh; Cameron Keys

Transfer newcomers: Toriano Pride Jr.

When Ennis Rakestraw Jr. was healthy, most teams wouldn’t throw in his direction. When they threw at Kris Abrams-Draine, the league’s leader in passes defended didn’t offer up much.

Of all Missouri’s outgoing production, corner might be the toughest to replace.

The Tigers will have plenty of experience in capable backups Dreyden Norwood and Marcus Clarke — both of whom were Power Five transfers in the past two seasons.

They’ll get more out of East St. Louis product and Clemson transfer Toriano Pride Jr., who played 26 games over two seasons with Dabo Swinney’s team.

Safety

Leaving for NFL Draft: JC Carlies

Prominent expected returners: Joseph Charleston; Sidney Williams; Tre’Vez Johnson; Marvin Burks Jr.; Phillip Roche

High school newcomers: Trajen Greco

Transfer newcomers: N/A

If Missouri is equipped to handle losing a starter anywhere on defense, it’s at safety.

JC Carlies, who is leaving one year early, will be a tough-to-replace loss. He recorded 64 total tackles to lead the team for the second straight season and added two interceptions in 2023.

But the Tigers have numbers to call.

Sidney Williams and Tre’Vez Johnson, two Power Five transfers from Florida State and Florida a year ago, respectively, played in every game last season. Marvin Burks Jr. and Phillip Roche both had standout true freshman campaigns.

Trajen Greco — a four-star prospect out of Georgia expected to slot in at safety — is the Tigers’ newest addition to the 2024 team, as he announced his commitment Saturday.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Mizzou football: Options to replace NFL draft-bound defensive players