Spring football preview: Defensive ends
Missouri will open its third spring under Barry Odom next month. Over the next two weeks, we preview spring ball position by position. Today, it's the defensive ends.
SPRING FOOTBALL 2018: Defensive ends
The Starters: Missouri has developed a reputation for churning out prolific defensive ends. Suddenly this season, however, the Tigers are very thin at the position. Due to the graduation of Marcell Frazier and Jordan Harold, the Tigers will have two new starters at defensive end when it opens its 2018 season than it did in the Texas Bowl. Based on last season’s production, the frontrunners for those spots appear to be redshirt freshman Tre Williams and junior Nate Anderson. Williams, a Columbia native, became a regular contributor a season ago, when he totaled 18 tackles and three sacks. Anderson played just five games, but in that span he tallied 11 tackles and a sack. Chris Turner, who totaled just 3 tackles as a freshman but who has drawn praise from the coaching staff, could also compete for a starting spot with a strong spring.
The Backups: Aside from Williams, Anderson and Turner, Missouri has just one returning defensive end in junior Franklin Agbasimere. Agbasimere, who didn't start playing football until he came to the United States from Nigeria in high school and began his college career as a linebacker, has seen his only meaningful game action on special teams. With Missouri’s lack of depth at the position this year, however, it seems likely that he could be asked to contribute.
Potential Storylines: Seemingly every Missouri team in the past decade or so has featured a fearsome pass rusher. Can anyone in this group become that guy? Based on what we’ve seen from the group so far, Williams seems like the most likely candidate. Due to the team's lack of experience at the position, he will certainly be given every opportunity to seize the role.
Spring Prediction: Williams establishes himself as a secure starter. Turner enters the summer as the other name atop the depth chart, but the Tigers’ newcomers at the position will challenge for his spot in the fall.
Help on the Way: Missouri addressed its defensive end shortage by adding three players at the position in its 2018 recruiting class. Each of those players should have a chance to see the field once they arrive on campus. The most highly-touted of the group is 4-star Kansas City-area native Daniel Parker Jr. There has been speculation that Parker could wind up on the Tigers’ offensive line because he played offensive line for most of his high school career, but the Missouri coaches have repeatedly said they plan to start Parker with the defense. Joining Parker will be Trajan Jeffcoat and Jatorian Hansford. Hansford may be the most likely candidate for a redshirt season, as defensive line coach Brick Haley recently described him as raw, saying he didn’t have the same amount of football experience as other signees in the class.
MORE SPRING PREVIEWS
Coming tomorrow: Cornerbacks