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Write out all the elements of the Missouri football team, tape it to a dart board and throw at it blind.
Chances are, whatever you hit has seen more than its fair share of drama in the last 12 months. But the defensive line — or #DLineZou, if you prefer — could be the most intriguing position group of them all.
Here are just a few things that have happened to Mizzou’s defensive line in the last year:
- 2015 preseason All-SEC candidate Harold Brantley suffered terrible injuries in a summer car accident. He missed the entire season and his football future remains a question mark.
- Coach Gary Pinkel announced the dismissal of projected 2015 starting defensive end Marcus Loud due to undisclosed rules violations.
- Five-star defensive tackle Terry Beckner Jr. signed with Mizzou on National Signing Day. He earned freshman All-America honors despite tearing his ACL late in the season. Then he got arrested for marijuana possession.
- Shane Ray and Markus Golden, arguably the best pass-rushing tandem in the SEC during the 2014 season, got drafted in the first and second rounds, respectively.
- Both Golden and Ray squared off against Kony Ealy in the NFL playoffs. Ealy, a 2013 product, was the most disruptive player on the Carolina Panthers defense in Super Bowl 50.
- Pinkel hired Barry Odom as defensive coordinator instead of promoting long-time defensive line coach Craig Kuligowski, who is largely credited with developing all of Mizzou’s NFL draft picks at the position. Kuligowski nearly left to accept a co-coordinator job at Illinois before the 2015 season, but reneged to stay in Columbia at the last minute.
- After a disappointing and volatile season, Pinkel retires. Missouri hires Odom as head coach and Kuligowski splits. Odom hires USC defensive line coach Chris Wilson, who departs in favor of a job with the Philadelphia Eagles less than one month later. Mizzou finally hires Jackie Shipp from Arizona State.
And those are just the highlights. Whew. What a whirlwind.
That takes us to spring practice, now (incredibly) just weeks away.
Despite all that chaos, Missouri’s defensive line has a chance to be outstanding yet again in 2016. At this point, it seems very doubtful that Brantley will play at an All-SEC level this fall, if he returns to the field at all. In addition to large challenges from a physical standpoint, Brantley apparently is behind academically as well.
Odom: DL Harold Brantley not cleared medically to practice yet, still doing rehab daily, has work to do academically to get eligible
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) February 4, 2016
If Brantley is able to contribute something meaningful this fall, it’ll be a bonus. But the unit has every opportunity to be the best on the entire team regardless.
Walter Brady, a two-star nobody in the 2014 class, made 12.5 tackles for loss as a redshirt freshman. He was a better-than-average SEC defensive end last year and was just starting to tap into his physical ability.
Charles Harris, another two-star nobody in the 2013 class, became the alpha player on the unit as a redshirt sophomore. He made 18.5 tackles for loss, second in the conference to Texas A&M’s Myles Garrett. He was second-team All-SEC in 2015 and figures to make a run at the first team this fall.
Then there’s Beckner Jr., who should be even better in 2016. It doesn’t seem like he’ll miss any games due to injury or discipline, though the time table for his return from the ACL injury may cut it close.
Odom says DL Terry Beckner Jr. is back working out with team, reinstated from suspension.
— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) February 4, 2016
That’s not to mention capable veterans like Rickey Hatley and Josh Augusta, who could be above-average SEC defensive linemen in 2016. If young development projects like Josh Moore and Nate Howard can make significant contributions, you’re looking at a very healthy defensive line rotation for what could be a mix of 3-4 and 4-3 alignments.
The coaches and star players are different, but don’t expect the production to sink within the #DLineZou. Missouri will have every opportunity to lead the SEC in tackles for loss this coming season thanks to what could be another monster year for the defensive line.
An itinerant journalist, Christopher has moved between states 11 times in seven years. Formally an injury-prone Division I 800-meter specialist, he now wanders the Rockies in search of high peaks.
