Missouri’s Defensive End Room Faces a Rebuild - Can the Tigers Reload or Will They Regress?
No defensive end duo in the SEC brought the heat quite like Missouri’s did in 2025. Zion Young and Damon Wilson II were relentless off the edge, collapsing pockets and making life miserable for opposing quarterbacks. But now, both are gone - Young is headed for what looks like an early-round selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Wilson made a surprise move to Miami via the transfer portal.
So the question heading into spring camp is simple: Can Mizzou replace that kind of edge-rushing production?
A Busy Offseason, A New-Look Room
Missouri’s offseason has been anything but quiet. The Tigers were active in the transfer portal, with 28 players coming in and 26 heading out.
Among the new arrivals are several defensive ends who will be tasked with filling the void left by Young and Wilson. Spring practices are just around the corner, and the competition for reps is about to heat up.
Let’s take a closer look at how things are shaping up at defensive end heading into spring:
Projected Depth Chart
Starters
- Boundary End: Darris Smith (r-sr.)
- Field End: Langden Kitchen (sr.)
Rotation
- Boundary End: *Malik Bryant (r-jr.)
*, Daeden Hopkins (r-fr.)
- Field End: *Jaden Jones (r-sr.)
*, *Demarcus Johnson (jr.) *
Reserves
- *CJ May (r-fr.)
*, *Cavan Tuley (r-jr.) *
(*Indicates transfer)
The Returning Core
Smith and Kitchen are the only two players in the room who’ve logged meaningful snaps in a Missouri uniform. Smith, now entering his third season in Columbia, brings versatility and upside.
He played primarily on the boundary last year and quietly posted 30 quarterback pressures - a strong number that mirrors the production of both Wilson and Young. That’s no small feat, especially considering he’s still working his way back from a season-ending injury in his first year with the program.
Kitchen, meanwhile, made the jump from Division II and didn’t look out of place. He filled in behind Young at field end and held his own, logging 171 snaps and generating 14 pressures. It was a solid debut at the FBS level, and now he’s in line for a starting role.
The Newcomers: Experience, But Not a Ton of It
Of the five new faces in the room, three bring some collegiate experience:
- Malik Bryant arrives from Miami, where he was part of a deep and talented edge room but didn’t see much action - fewer than 200 snaps across three seasons. Still, he’s got the physical tools and pedigree to be a contributor, especially on the boundary opposite Smith.
- Jaden Jones comes in from Florida State. He played 171 snaps last season but managed just six pressures. That’s not eye-popping production, but he’s got the frame and traits Missouri looks for at the field end spot.
- Demarcus Johnson, a JUCO standout from Hutchinson CC, was highly ranked coming out of the junior college ranks but only played in one game last season. He’s something of a wild card - high ceiling, but unproven at this level.
The other two additions, CJ May (Louisville) and Cavan Tuley (Houston), are more developmental at this point. May didn’t appear in a game as a true freshman, and Tuley has mostly contributed on special teams.
What Mizzou Has - And What It Might Be Missing
Here’s the good news: Missouri has two returning players in Smith and Kitchen who know the system, have SEC reps under their belts, and can be counted on to hold down starting roles early.
The concern? This group doesn’t yet have that one guy who screams game-changer.
Last year, Young and Wilson were those guys. They didn’t just play well - they took over games.
Missouri doesn’t beat Kansas or South Carolina without their disruptive presence.
Smith has the potential to be that player, but we haven’t seen him do it as the guy yet. Bryant and Johnson bring upside, but they’re still largely untested. Jones has the experience, but the production hasn’t matched the snap count.
That lack of elite experience is hard to ignore. And when head coach Eli Drinkwitz called last year’s group “some of the best defensive ends in the country,” he wasn’t exaggerating. That’s a high bar to clear.
Can the Coaching Staff Work Its Magic Again?
If there’s a reason for optimism, it’s defensive ends coach Brian Early. Since arriving in 2024, Early has consistently developed high-level talent at this position.
Zion Young was good when he got to Columbia. He was elite when he left.
Johnny Walker Jr. became a tone-setter under Early’s watch.
So while Missouri didn’t land a marquee transfer at defensive end this offseason - no splash move like Wilson or Young in years past - it’s possible the staff believes it can mold this group into something more than the sum of its parts.
Spring Camp Storylines to Watch
- **Can Smith take the leap from solid contributor to dominant force? **
- **Is Bryant ready to finally break out after a quiet stint at Miami? **
- **Which of the newcomers - Jones, Johnson, or someone else - can carve out a real role? **
- **Will someone unexpected emerge, like Kitchen did last year? **
The pieces are there for Missouri to build a solid rotation. But if the Tigers want to keep their defensive front among the SEC’s elite, someone in this room will need to step up and become a difference-maker.
From where we’re standing in mid-February, it looks like the Tigers are facing a potential step back at one of their most important positions. But with spring camp approaching, there’s still time for someone to rise - and prove that Missouri’s edge-rushing tradition isn’t going anywhere.