Mizzou’s defense already showed it can suffocate an opponent. Last season, the Tigers finished eighth nationally in total defense, held teams to 277.3 yards per game and ranked 17th in scoring defense at 18.9 points per game. They were also 11th against the pass and 13th against the run.
But inside the program, that wasn’t the full story. The number that kept coming up at preseason media day was the one that didn’t match the rest: takeaways.
That was the common thread when the conversation shifted from linebackers to cornerbacks. Nicholas Rodriguez said it.
Jeremiah Beasley came back to it. Nick DeLoach Jr. said it from the secondary.
The message was the same each time.
"As a defense we've got to work on takeaways, get the ball out," Rodriguez said. "We had plenty of opportunities last year, and I just feel like we've got to capitalize on those this year."
That’s the glaring issue for a unit that calls itself “Death Row.” Mizzou forced only 12 total takeaways in 2025, which tied for 106th nationally.
Eleven of them came on defense - seven interceptions and four fumble recoveries - and one came on special teams. Only 25 teams in college football forced fewer mistakes.
Rodriguez was right in the middle of some of the near-misses. He led the Tigers with seven pass breakups and added 61 tackles, but none of those ball disruptions turned into an interception. His focus wasn’t on building something new so much as cashing in on the chances already there.
Beasley took the same line when asked what the defense needed most heading into camp. He believes the linebackers have the speed, athleticism and instinct to help swing that number in the right direction.
The secondary sees the issue just as clearly. Mizzou was still hard to throw against, but limiting completions didn’t always lead to extra possessions. DeLoach wants the cornerbacks to turn more of that competitiveness into takeaways.
"Going into fall camp, one thing we need to focus on is takeaways," DeLoach said. "We didn't have that many picks out of that cornerback room last year, so I feel like that's something we should emphasize. Even if it's getting strikes on the ball, forcing fumbles, any type of takeaway."
Chris Graves Jr. is one of the new faces trying to help with that. He arrives with three years of SEC experience at Ole Miss, including nine starts in 2025, but he’s also adjusting to a new scheme and a new locker room. That puts him in the unusual spot of trying to help lead a rebuilt cornerback room before he has played a snap for Mizzou.
"You've got to compete at the end of the day, but you've also got to get welcomed by the teammates, get trusted, be a reliable teammate," Graves said. "I just came in making sure I was a reliable guy.
"I think trust has to be more than just the corners."
Graves wants more player-led meetings involving both corners and safeties, because the kind of chemistry that creates turnovers has to be built together. When defenders know exactly where the help is coming from, they can play faster and attack the football with more confidence.
Mizzou has already shown what it looks like when those plays don’t come. The Tigers had seven interceptions last season. Dante McClellan had an 83-yard interception return for a touchdown in his first college game, and now he wants those kinds of moments to become part of the defense’s identity.
"We want to be a top group in the nation in turnovers," McClellan said.
Last season, Mizzou proved it could shut drives down. This year, the Tigers want more of those drives to end with the ball in their hands.
In Other News...
Mark Mitchell Just Put Mizzou In A Roster Squeeze
Mark Mitchells next move has already put Missouri in an awkward spot, and the timing could hardly be worse. The forward has joined a lawsuit in Kentucky seeking a temporary restraining order against the NCAA that would allow him another year of college basketball, with a hearing set for Thursday in Louisville. For Missouri, the immediate reality is simple: if Mitchell cannot get relief, his options are limited to coming back to a roster that is already full.
If the injunction is granted, though, the picture changes quickly. Mitchell would be able to explore opportunities beyond Columbia, which is exactly why the case has so much relevance for Missouri even before a judge weighs in. Kentucky stands out as the most obvious destination to watch, given its open roster spot and reported interest, leaving the Tigers in the middle of a situation that could reshape their own lineup without any on-court move at all. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou Special Teams Suddenly Look Like A Real Strength
Special teams is suddenly looking like more than an afterthought around Missouri, thanks to a healthier Blake Craig and a fresh set of faces brought in to stabilize the unit. Craig, the senior kicker, is fully recovered from the ACL injury that slowed him down and is taking part in fall camp without restrictions, giving the Tigers a veteran presence at a spot where consistency matters every week.
Missouri also turned to John Papuchis to run special teams, and the new coordinator has a deeper toolbox to work with after the program added kicker Oliver Robbins along with punters Brunno Reus and Mark Shenouda. With that mix of recovery, new leadership and added specialists, there is real optimism that the Tigers can make special teams a strength in 2026 rather than a source of unease. [Read more 🡒]