Story by
Columbia Daily Tribune
Five Missouri football players who have All-SEC defense potential in 2025 season
- Story byColumbia Daily Tribune
- Five Missouri football players who have All-SEC defense potential in 2025 season
There's a preseason case to be made that Missouri football defensive coordinator Corey Batoon has the strongest tools at his disposal among the play callers in Columbia.
Mizzou players are less than a month away from reporting for preseason camp. The Tigers , in recent seasons, have reported to campus in Columbia on the final weekend of July. The first game on Faurot Field — Aug. 28 versus Central Arkansas — is less than 60 days away.
Advertisement
Talking season will be in full swing in the middle of this month, with Mizzou head coach Eli Drinkwitz set to appear at SEC Media Days on July 17 in Atlanta .
One of the major talking points could be the anticipated collective quality of the pieces Mizzou has assembled for its defense in 2025.
While it's popular, here are five Missouri football players on the defensive side of the ball who we think have the best chance to have All-SEC-caliber seasons.
More: Missouri football only has 1 defensive commit in Class of 2026. Why that soon should change
Daylan Carnell, safety
COLUMBIA, MISSOURI - NOVEMBER 09: Safety Daylan Carnell #13 of the Missouri Tigers celebrates after a fumble by the Oklahoma Sooners in the second half at Faurot Field/Memorial Stadium on November 09, 2024 in Columbia, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
With 43 games under his belt in the black and gold, nobody on the Mizzou defense is more experienced than Carnell.
Advertisement
He's emerged as a bit of an everything-man for Missouri — and has a knack for being in the right place at the right time — with 13 tackles for loss, three sacks, four picks, 20 pass breakups, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and nine quarterback pressures across his career at the 'Star' safety spot, which essentially operates as a hybrid between the front and the secondary.
Don't be surprised to see Carnell's final year in Columbia bring around some significant NFL chatter. He was named to Phil Steele's preseason All-SEC third-team, but the ceiling may be even higher for the projected mainstay on the MU defense.
Jalen Catalon , safety
By all indications, Catalon was no friend of the offense in spring camp.
Catalon was named a second-team All-American at UNLV last season by College Football Network, a return to the top of the sport after a Freshman All-American campaign at Arkansas in 2020.
Advertisement
You won't find many players with bigger numbers than Catalon, who is entering his seventh season in the sport. He has 272 career tackles, 10 interceptions and has forced five fumbles during his time in the sport. That included five picks last season in Las Vegas , and a 99-tackle year over 10 games as a redshirt freshman at Arkansas in 2020.
Catalon made Phil Steele's preseason All-SEC second-team list. In a safety room that loses three players who either started or played significant snaps last season, he should have a major role.
Damon Wilson II, defensive end
Arch Manning #16 of the Texas Longhorns fumbles the ball as he is hit by Damon Wilson II #10 of the Georgia Bulldogs
Another one of Mizzou's marquee transfer-portal additions of the offseason, Wilson will play a role that should allow him to have a high impact early and often as a Tiger.
Advertisement
The Georgia transfer figures as the Tigers' next premier edge rusher. He fits the physical profile, standing 6 foot 4, 250 pounds, to take over for Denver Broncos -bound Johnny Walker Jr. at the boundary defensive end spot, which is where MU generates the bulk of its havoc plays.
In 26 total appearances for UGA, including a couple starts, Wilson has six tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
Chris McClellan, defensive tackle
Oct 19, 2024; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Auburn Tigers tight end Rivaldo Fairweather (13) is tackled by Missouri Tigers defensive tackle Chris McClellan (7) during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
McClellan is the clear leader on the interior of Mizzou's defensive line after a standout first campaign in Columbia. There's certainly still another step for the 6-4, 323-pound senior to take, though.
Advertisement
The Tulsa, Oklahoma, product was productive last season, producing 5.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Tack on that there is going to be some inexperience around McClellan, and his role gets even more important. The Tigers will need to rely on some in-house development to round out their DT rotation at some point, but McClellan should lead the squad in snaps up front.
He's a good base to build around, rated as a fourth-team preseason All-SEC pick in Phil Steele's estimation. If McClellan can build on a solid 2024, he's certainly in All-SEC consideration.
More: Meet 'massive' Chris McClellan, Missouri football's potentially pivotal new defensive tackle
Advertisement
Josiah Trotter, linebacker
West Virginia Mountaineers linebacker Josiah Trotter (40) intercepts a pass during a college football game between the Oklahoma State Cowboys (OSU) and the West Virginia Mountaineers at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024.
Trotter was named a freshman All-American by the FWAA and The Athletic and was the Big 12's Defensive Freshman of the Year last season at West Virginia. He had 92 tackles, including four for loss, and recorded a pick and two PBUs.
He's likely to line up as a middle linebacker for the Tigers, with returning starter Triston Newson the incumbent weakside linebacker. Both Newson and Trotter were third-team preseason All-SEC picks by Phil Steele.
More: 5 Missouri football players who are All-SEC candidates on offense in 2025 season
His father, Jeremiah Trotter Sr., is a Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Famer. His older brother, Jeremiah Trotter Jr. , helped the Eagles to the Super Bowl last season.
Big shoes, and a potentially big-time addition for the Tigers.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: 5 Missouri football players who have All-SEC potential on defense
