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Tuesday Spring Practice Notebook

FOLLOW THE TIGERS ALL YEAR LONG WITH A PREMIUM SUBSCRIPTION

Missouri's defense struggled at every level last season. The Tigers tumbled from one of the country's best defenses in 2015 to one of its worst in 2016. Opponents averaged 496.3 yards and 31.5 points per game. So nothing was very good. But the struggles may have been most evident at safety.

Missouri rotated a lot of players through at the position. The Tigers rotated four players (Anthony Sherrils, Ronnell Perkins, Thomas Wilson, Cam Hilton) regularly.

"As a group, they've shown glimpses throughout each practice that they've done some good things," head coach Barry Odom said. "We'll have a lot of things in our nickel and dime packages where we'll have five, six defensive backs on the field at one time. We've got to put the pieces in the right place."

All four of those players are back for next year. Anthony Hines has moved to safety as well and they've been joined by Kansas State transfer Kaleb Prewett as well.

"He's got maturing to do and grasping and understanding our defense," Odom said of Prewett. "For four days, he's done pretty well and he has game experience...We've got to get him in the position that he understands it without hesitation and then his athletic ability can take off."

"I think the biggest thing that he can bring is experience," defensive coordinator DeMontie Cross said. "He played a lot at K-State. He started a lot over there. His experience and playing at a high level has got to bode well. I think the biggest adjustment is the learning curve of now our defense versus being able to just kind of freelance on scout team last year.

"Right now, he's behind a little bit from a learning curve, but athletically, he's exactly what we want out there."

Prewett played in eight games with 49 tackles and a sack for the Wildcats in 2015. He sat out last year due to NCAA transfer rules while practicing with the Tigers.

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Kaleb Prewett will join the fray at safety for the Tigers in 2017.
Kaleb Prewett will join the fray at safety for the Tigers in 2017. (Lexi Churchill)

                    EARLY ENROLLEES HOPING TO MAKE AN IMPRESSION

Missouri added four players from the 2017 recruiting class to the roster in time for spring football. Running back Isaiah Miller, offensive linemen Yasir Durant and Pompey Coleman, and defensive tackle Rashad Brandon started classes this semester and are going through spring drills.

"We're fairly lucky with their maturity levels. They've adjusted pretty well," Odom said. "Then our current team has really embraced them and brought them in with open arms, which is nice to see. Those are guys that are coming in and competing trying to take our current guys' spots.

"We're trying to make sure we realize and recognize that they've only been here a couple days, but also try to teach them and coach them as hard as we can to get them ready to go help us win."

Miller, a Florida product, is getting some extra carries this spring with Nate Strong suspended through the first four practices (and an undetermined time going forward). He is looking to make the most of the increased workload.

"Had a couple runs today where he looked more comfortable, more assertive, more aggressive than he has the first couple of days," offensive coordinator Josh Heupel said. "That's what you hope will happen for a back. There's a lot of traffic that's happening real fast compared to what he just got done playing in the fall. I like the way he's continuing to compete."

Brandon is getting some extra work as well. The Tigers have a shortage of healthy bodies on the defensive line's interior and the New York juco product has made an early impression.

"He is going to be great," senior defensive tackle A.J. Logan said. "He's explosive, he has a good quick swim, he's picking it up really fast. I think he's going to be a great asset for us."

Isaiah Miller enrolled early and is looking to turn heads in his first spring.
Isaiah Miller enrolled early and is looking to turn heads in his first spring. (Lexi Churchill)

                                                 INJURY UPDATE

Missouri added three players to the injury list on Tuesday. Offensive lineman Kevin Pendleton was limited with a sprained foot. Fellow lineman Samson Bailey was held out entirely due while going through concussions protocol and defensive lineman Franklin Agbasimere will miss the rest of the spring after having surgery to repair a broken bone in his foot.

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