Fall camp preview: Safeties

Over the next couple of weeks, PowerMizzou.com will get Tiger fans set for fall camp with an in-depth breakdown at every position. We will outline the likely starters headed into fall camp, highlight a few backups who could challenge for a job, and set the scene with the major camp storylines at each spot. This will be a special free series on the site, every day for ten days. Today, we look at the safeties:

The Starters: Jasper Simmons has one spot on lockdown. But the other one is very much up in the air. Jarrell Harrison started most of last year, but slipped to third string in the spring and was recently arrested on shoplifting charges. The candidates are many for the other spot opposite Simmons.

The Backups: Kenronte Walker was brought in from the junior college ranks for immediate help. Matt White and Tavon Bolden had good springs and enter their redshirt freshman seasons. But perhaps the most likely player to step forward is Kenji Jackson, who started the Kansas game as a true freshman before hitting a bit of a sophomore slump last season.

The Top Story: Basically, who starts? Walker should be much further along than he was in the spring, but Jackson is the guy we'll be watching. How can a player who was so good his freshman year disappear as a sophomore? Can he get back his 2008 form or will the Tigers have to turn elsewhere? As many problems as the pass defense has had, Missouri needs to find its answer here early in camp.

Nobody covers the Tigers year-round like PowerMizzou.com. We will preview fall camp with daily stories leading up to the first practice on August 5th. If you are not yet a member, just try out our free seven-day trial.