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Three Missouri Defensive Weapons Texas A&M Must Account For
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- Three Missouri Defensive Weapons Texas A&M Must Account For
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Corey Batoon has turned Missouri into one of the better defenses in the SEC since arriving in 2024 and the pipeline speaks for itself.
Four players from last year's defence were selected in the 2026 NFL Draft.
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The Tigers finished eighth nationally in total defense a season ago, allowing 277 yards and fewer than 19 points per game.
They have recorded 30+ team sacks in three of the last four years and are on pace to reach that number again.
The depth of that system was on display Saturday. Missouri shut down the nation's second-best scoring offense in a 45-17 rout of Florida despite playing without two of its top three defensive ends, Darris Smith and Langden Kitchen.
The Tigers held the Gators to 68 rushing yards on 22 attempts outside of sacks.
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Eli Drinkwitz said Tuesday that Smith and Kitchen will be questionable on Wednesday's SEC injury report, along with starting linebacker Robert Woodyard Jr.
If any of the three sit, these are the names that matter.
Nicholas Rodriguez, LB
Rodriguez was named SEC co-Defensive Player of the Week after the Florida win and he has been the most consistent player on this defense all season.
He leads Missouri in total tackles and has posted double-digit stops in four consecutive games.
He is particularly disruptive against the run, which is the area where A&M would most like to find success if Missouri is down bodies up front.
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Rodriguez diagnoses quickly, arrives with force and rarely misses. He also went to SEC Media Days as one of Missouri's three player representatives, which tells you how the staff views him.
Daeden Hopkins, EDGE
Hopkins has been the breakout star of this defense. The sophomore from Hermann, Missouri, stands 6-6 and has 6.0 sacks on the season, a total that ranks among the national leaders and near the top of the SEC.
The Mississippi State game was the showcase. Hopkins recorded 3.5 sacks, the second-most in a single game in program history and earned SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week. He added two forced fumbles earlier in the season.
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He was quieter against Florida, but the pressure was constant even without the counting stats.
Among FBS defenders with at least 100 pass-rushing snaps, Hopkins leads the nation in PFF pass-rushing grade at 90.8, pass-rush win rate at 24.5 percent and pressure rate at 19.6 percent. His 20 pressures lead the SEC.
That is the most important part for A&M. Even if Smith and Kitchen cannot go, this defensive line has proven it does not need them.
Missouri recorded three sacks and 11 tackles for loss against Florida, with safety Kensley Louidor-Faustin leading the way with 3.5 tackles for loss.
Hopkins creates enough disruption on his own to complicate protection schemes and the bodies around him are capable of finishing what he starts.
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Jahlil Florence, CB
Florence has been one of the better corners in college football without much attention. Pro Football Network's CB Impact Rankings have him seventh in the country and the coverage numbers explain why.
He ranks sixth nationally in catch rate allowed at 21.4 percent, giving up only three receptions on 14 targets this season.
READ MORE: Ahmad Hardy Ruled Out As Texas A&M Prepares For No. 14 Missouri
Quarterbacks have essentially stopped looking his way, which is the highest compliment a corner can receive.
For an A&M passing game that will need to find answers quickly if the pass rush gets home, knowing where Florence lines up matters.
