We continue our countdown to kick-off with our series detailing one biggest concern for every SEC team heading into 2026. Today, we head to Columbia to talk about the biggest concern for the Missouri Tigers this season.
Pass Rush Production
Eli Drinkwitz is an offensive minded coach, and he oversees an offense who fields one of the best running backs in the entire country. He’s also coming off the fifth straight bowl game for Missouri, which is the second longest streak in program history (7, 2005-2011).
If that wasn’t impressive enough, the Tigers have also racked up 29 wins over the last three seasons. Most of the eight wins in 2025 were because of the defense, though, and more specifically, the edge rush position.
The big acquisitions for 2025 were Ahmad Hardy, Beau Pribula, and Kevin Coleman. A trio of offensive skill position players and a quarterback. The headliner, however, was Georgia transfer Damon Wilson II.
The most important part of this sport is playing quarterback. After that, it’s protecting the quarterback. Third on that list of priorities? Getting to the quarterback. That is something Missouri did better than almost anyone a season ago.
A defensive line that was bookended by elite edge rush talent ranked third in the SEC in total pressures (228) and tackles for loss (89). They also racked up 36 sacks which ranked fifth in the league and was the second most they’ve had in any season under Eli Drinkwitz. A staggering 43 percent of those sacks and pressures came from two players, Zion Young and Damon Wilson II. Young left for the NFL and became a second round pick. Wilson II, who left Georgia for a big payday at Missouri, left Missouri for an even bigger payday at Miami.
The cupboard isn’t bare, but that’s a ton of production to replace for a team that’s already replacing its quarterback and leading receiver on the offensive side of the ball. Can they figure out how to get similar production, or at the very least not see it drop off a cliff with new faces this year?
We talked to John Miller from Locked On Missouri, and he had this to say:
“The 2025 Missouri pass rush was like buying a mansion in a good neighborhood. You didn’t get a bargain, but you got what you paid for. So much so that Damon Wilson transferred to Miami (FL), and Zion Young went in the early second round of The Draft.
In 2026, the Tigers are relying on fixer-uppers. Can Darris Smith, two years removed from ACL reconstruction, do a reasonable Wilson impression? Can local products Langden Kitchen and Daeden Hopkins emerge into starters?
After spending most of its portal capital in the secondary defensively, Eli Drinkwitz and his squad are clearly betting on their evaluation and development on the edge. Recent history says they’ll be right.”
Previous teams in the series
– LSU
– Alabama
– Arkansas
– Auburn
– Florida
– Georgia
– Kentucky – Mississippi State
