As Zion Young continues to turn heads at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, it's becoming increasingly clear just how big of a void he’s leaving behind in Columbia.
The former Missouri edge rusher has been nothing short of dominant during Senior Bowl practices, putting offensive linemen on skates and flashing the kind of explosiveness that NFL scouts drool over. He’s showing out on the national stage, and in the process, reminding everyone just how disruptive he was for the Tigers in 2025.
But while Young's stock is rising, Missouri is staring down a serious question: how do you replace that kind of production?
Young, along with fellow pass rusher Damon Wilson II, accounted for a combined 15.5 sacks last season. That’s not just a stat line - that’s the heartbeat of a pass rush that helped define Missouri’s defensive identity. Losing both players in one offseason is a gut punch, and while head coach Eli Drinkwitz has been active in the transfer portal, the replacements are still question marks at best.
Florida State transfer Jaden Jones and Louisville’s CJ May are the new faces in the edge room, but neither has recorded a sack in their college careers - though to be fair, their opportunities have been limited. Still, replacing one of the most productive edge duos in the SEC with unproven talent is a tall order.
Young finished last season with 56 pressures - a top-15 mark nationally. That’s not just good; that’s elite. Players who can consistently collapse the pocket like that don’t grow on trees, and Missouri’s ability to generate pressure in 2026 could hinge on whether one of these new additions can make a leap.
If the Tigers struggle this fall, don’t be surprised if the pass rush - or lack thereof - is a major reason why.
As for Young, his Senior Bowl performance is doing exactly what it’s supposed to: making NFL decision-makers take notice. At 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, he’s got the size, speed, and motor to be a problem off the edge at the next level. He’s already pushing into late first-round territory in some mock drafts, and if he keeps this up through the rest of the week in Mobile, he might just lock that up.
Missouri fans can be proud of what Young is doing - he’s representing the program well. But his rise is also a stark reminder of the challenge ahead.
Replacing a game-wrecker like Zion Young isn't just about plugging in a new name. It's about finding someone who can change games the way he did.
And right now, that answer is still to be determined.