Spring football preview: Defensive tackle
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 tackles.
SPRING FOOTBALL 2018: Defensive tackles
The Starters: Thursday evening, at a recruiting reception in St. Louis, Missouri defensive line coach Brick Haley said the coaching staff’s biggest recruiting victory this offseason was convincing defensive tackle Terry Beckner Jr. to wait on the NFL Draft and return to Columbia for his senior season. Beckner, who a year ago recorded 35 tackles, 7 sacks and an interception in his first full college season, will undoubtedly be the focal point of the Tiger defensive line in 2018. Next to Beckner, a new starter will have to emerge after the graduation of Columbia native A.J. Logan. Jordan Elliott, who sat out last season after transferring to Missouri from Texas, seems most likely to get the first shot at that spot. Elliott, who has three years of eligibility remaining, had eight tackles in four games during his one season at Texas.
The Backups: Junior Rashad Brandon is Missouri’s most productive returning interior lineman, aside from Beckner. A season ago, Brandon tallied 20 total tackles, including 5.5 tackles for loss and a sack. With a strong spring, he should be able to put himself in line for an increased role. Fellow junior Walter Palmore had 13 tackles a season ago and could also seize a spot on the two-deep depth chart. Sophomore Markell Utsey and freshman Kobie Whiteside each saw the field a season ago and could work their way into expanded workloads. Then there is junior college transfer Antar Thompson. Thompson, who originally signed with Missouri in its 2013 recruiting class and has three seasons of eligibility remaining, signed with the Tigers once again this year and enrolled in January. Thompson should bring physical and emotional maturity to the unit. If he can learn the system quickly, he could challenge for a starting spot by the season-opener.
Potential Storylines: Who will start alongside Beckner? Coaches raved about Elliott while he sat out last season. Thompson was once considered the No. 5 recruit in the state of Missouri, and even after several years away from football and a season at junior college, he came to Missouri the nation’s No. 30 defensive tackle. They seem to have the highest ceilings of any non-Beckner interior linemen. If one or both of them can quickly adjust to the demands of a new system and seize that second starting spot, Missouri will likely be better for it.
Spring Prediction: Beckner and Elliott will close spring as the starters. Thompson and Brandon will see regular action in relief.
Help on the Way: Thompson was the only interior defensive lineman in this year’s recruiting class. However, 2017 signee Caleb Sampson redshirted last season, so with a strong spring there’s a chance he could earn himself his first playing time.
MORE SPRING PREVIEWS
Coming tomorrow: Defensive ends