Missouri’s first availability report for Saturday’s Homecoming matchup with No. 8 Florida brought the expected news on two key defenders: EDGE Darris Smith and defensive end Langden Kitchen are both listed as questionable.
The report, released Wednesday night through the SEC, included eight Missouri players in all. Along with Smith and Kitchen, linebacker Bobby Washington Jr. is questionable. Running backs Ahmad Hardy and Malae Fonoti, tight end Gavin Hoffman, offensive lineman Josh Atkins and defensive back JaDon Blair are all out.
Florida’s initial report listed two receivers as questionable: Vernell Brown III and Bailey Stockton.
Smith sat out last Saturday’s SEC opener at Mississippi State after suffering an ankle injury in Missouri’s 27-17 win over Troy in Week 3. Kitchen exited the 31-24 loss in Starkville after just 14 snaps because of what Missouri has described as a lower-body injury.
“Both are questionable,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said Tuesday night during his “Tiger Talk” radio show. “We have a policy that you have to practice by Thursday in order for us to feel confident that you can execute in the game.”
Smith had started Missouri’s first three games before missing the trip to Starkville. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Georgia native has five tackles, two tackles for loss and eight pressures.
Kitchen, who transferred in last year from Division II Northwest Missouri State, has started all four games for the Tigers this season. He has eight tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack and seven pressures.
“Last week, Darris was just not able to get going,” Drinkwitz said. “He's been walking around the building.
He's doing everything he can to get going. He's doing well.
Langden, hopefully we'll make some progress tonight and tomorrow and we'll see how that goes.”
Missouri enters the weekend at 3-1 overall and 0-1 in SEC play after the loss to Mississippi State. Florida is 4-0 overall and 2-0 in the league after its 52-28 win over Ole Miss in Gainesville.
The SEC began requiring availability reports in 2024. Schools must turn in reports three days before conference games in football, men’s and women’s basketball and baseball, then provide daily updates and a final report 90 minutes before kickoff. Players are listed as available, probable, questionable, doubtful or out before game day, and as available, game time decision or out on game day.
The league can fine schools $25,000 to $100,000 in football for inaccurate or late reports, with penalties of up to $15,000 to $25,000 in basketball and baseball.
Missouri’s next update ahead of the Florida game is due Thursday evening.
In Other News...
Florida's Breakout Season Faces A Huge Test At Missouri
Floridas visit to Columbia arrives with both teams trying to sort out what kind of October run they can make, and college football analyst Greg McElroy sees the matchup tilting toward the visitors. He pointed to Floridas running game as the most reliable edge in the game, with Jadan Baugh powering a ground attack that has helped shape the Gators breakout start.
Missouri, meanwhile, is being pressed by issues that have shown up in the margins, especially in finishing drives and keeping opponents from turning limited chances into points. The Tigers also face a Florida team whose defensive tendencies could create a tougher day for Missouris passing game, which makes the October 3 meeting feel like more than just another conference game for a team trying to keep its league standing from slipping. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Suddenly Has A Defensive Concern Heading Into Florida
Missouris trip to No. 8 Florida picked up an extra layer of uncertainty Wednesday night when the injury report listed several key defenders as questionable, including edge rushers Langden Kitchen and Darris Smith and linebacker Bobby Washington Jr. For a Tigers defense that will need to bring pressure and stay sturdy in the middle against a ranked opponent on the road, those names jumping onto the report immediately changed the look of the matchup.
Eli Drinkwitz had already acknowledged Kitchen and Smiths status during his Tuesday media session, so the situation was not a complete surprise, but it still leaves Missouri waiting on important pieces at a critical spot on the field. Florida has injury questions of its own, with leading receiver Vernel Brown III and third receiver Bailey Stockton also listed as questionable, but Missouris bigger concern is whether it can get enough speed and depth back on defense before kickoff. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou's Pass Rush Faces Its Biggest Florida Test Yet
Missouris pass rush has been one of the defining pieces of its defense through four games in 2026, with sophomore Daeden Hopkins emerging as a disruptive force and ranking among the nations leaders in pressures and sacks. That front has helped set the tone early, but Florida brings a very different kind of test into view this week, thanks to an offensive line that has given up the fewest sacks in the SEC so far this season.
The Tigers also have some uncertainty on the edge as they prepare for the matchup, which adds another layer to a challenge that already figures to lean on depth as much as star power. If Missouri needs more help up front, Jaden Jones and Kamauryn Morgan are among the players expected to be asked to carry a bigger load, and how that rotation holds up could go a long way toward determining whether the pass rush keeps its edge. [Read more 🡒]