With less than three weeks until kickoff, Missouri is still sorting through some of the final wrinkles on a defense that was already elite a year ago.
That’s the strange part about this camp: the Tigers are trying to build on a unit that finished 10th nationally in Bill Connelly’s SP+ and seventh in success rate, yet plenty of jobs are still open. Corey Batoon’s defense swallowed up running backs at the line of scrimmage and helped Mizzou reach eight wins even while dealing with injuries and uneven quarterback play. Now the focus has shifted to finding the right mix of talent and experience for 2026.
Eli Drinkwitz has even started holding out some veterans in practice, including cornerback Chris Graves Jr. and safety Santana Banner, to give other players a tougher proving ground.
“There was really no reason for us to put them out there in jeopardy,” Drinkwitz said during a session with the media Saturday, “and it’s really about developing the other part of our roster.”
Graves has the top cornerback job locked down after playing in every game and making nine starts last season at Ole Miss. Beyond him, though, the rotation is still fluid.
Drinkwitz pointed to five players in the mix, and the most visible push right now seems to be coming from Jahlil Florence and Sione Laulea, the former Oregon Ducks who have stood out lately in practice. Nick DeLoach Jr., Cameron Keys and freshman Jaxson Gates are still competing too.
At STAR, the picture is clearer but not fully settled. Auburn transfer Kensley Louidor-Faustin appears to have the edge over C.J. Bass, though Drinkwitz said Bass made a strong case of his own.
“There’s been really good competition. I think C.J. Bass had a really good day too at the STAR position, had a takeaway,” Drinkwitz said, “So I’m pleased with where that position is going.”
The edge-rusher spot is also undergoing a major reset after the departures of Damon Wilson II and Zion Young. Missouri added transfers, but the Tigers may not need them to fill the void. Darris Smith and Langden Kitchen look ready to handle those jobs internally after combining for 29 tackles, six tackles for loss and four sacks in 2025, with all four sacks belonging to Smith.
“Langden’s been one of those guys that we’ve asked him and Darris to take on a bigger role as leaders and really make a jump, and he’s done an excellent job,” Drinkwitz said. “Him and coach Early have been really focusing on their pass rush and how to create more pass rush, and he’s been a nightmare for our guys before.”
On offense, the line is starting to take shape. Drinkwitz said Mississippi State transfer Luke Work is expected to start at right tackle, giving Missouri a bookend pair with Cayden Green. Josh Atkins had been the early favorite there before an injury changed the picture.
“I feel pretty good that Cayden and Luke are kind of our starters,” Drinkwitz said, “and we’ve got to figure out who’s out third tackle between Logan [Reichert] and Jack [Lange] and even Whit Hafer.”
Left guard is the last unsettled spot up front. Zack Owens entered camp as one of Missouri’s major line additions after starting 10 games last season at Mississippi State, but Tristan Wilson is making it a real competition.
“Tristan has developed himself into a starter in the SEC and really one of our most versatile players,” Drinkwitz said, “With holding [Dominick Giudice] out today, we moved Tristan into the center position - and I mean, he handled everything from candence to snap count to identification. We didn’t really miss a beat.”
The biggest offensive question may be the status of consensus All-American Ahmad Hardy. Drinkwitz said the staff expects to know more Aug.
- Hardy still isn’t taking part in walk-throughs, but he is making progress in the weight room and in speed training.
“We’ll sit down with the doctors and evaluate where he’s at,” he said. “He still isn’t able to get into walk-through stuff, but he’s progressing in the weight room and in his speed training.”
Special teams is one area where Missouri has a much cleaner read. Blake Craig is back at kicker after missing most of last season, and Florida State transfer Brunno Reus has taken over the punting job.
Drinkwitz wants more consistency from Craig after what he called a down practice Saturday, even though Craig went 4-for-4 in the portion of practice open to the media the day before. Reus has looked steady in camp, but Drinkwitz said the real test comes once the games begin.
“We won’t know until we put it all together,” he said, “But he’s been consistently punting the ball well; we’ve just got to make sure our protection and coverage is good.”
Missouri also made a notable change on special teams by hiring John Papuchis away from Florida State as coordinator. Drinkwitz said Papuchis has already made an impression.
“I think JP’s done a really good job getting his schemes in, guys buying in to what we’re doing,” Drinkwitz said, “It looks different, feels a little different than what we’ve done in the past, which is good.”
That kind of upgrade would be welcome. Last season, Mizzou finished with a top-50 offense and defense, but its special teams ranked outside the top 100.
The final week of fall camp runs through Aug. 22, and Missouri opens the 2026 season Sept. 3 against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in Columbia.
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