Missouri Tigers Spring Football Position Previews: Defensive Tackle

Spring football resumes this week for the Missouri Tigers as they get ready for the Black & Gold game on April 18th. Today, we take a look at the interior of the defensive line and who will be lining up to the defensive ends.

The stars of the defensive line were the defensive ends the past two years. This year, the stardom shifts inside to Harold Brantley and Josh Augusta.

Redshirt junior Harold Brantley (6-foot-3, 280 pounds) had a breakout sophomore campaign in 2014 totaling 54 tackles, seven for loss, and five sacks. Brantley also had two fake punt runs against Indiana and Minnesota to extend the drives. He had one of those in 2013 against Ole Miss.

Oct 18, 2014; Gainesville, FL, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Treon Harris (3) runs with the ball as Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Harold Brantley (90) defends during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Brantley was eligible to enter the NFL Draft and considered it, but chose to comeback and improve upon his draft stock. He’ll be the focal point of the d-line and line up at nose guard, play d-tackle, and may see some time at d-end if defensive coordinator Barry Odom implements some of his 3-4 scheme.

After being a rotational player in 2013, Brantley became an on-and-off starter with Matt Hoch and Lucas Vincent but ultimately established himself as the next d-line star after Shane Ray and Markus Golden. Gary Pinkel went as far to say that Brantley is very similar to former Mizzou first-round pick and Pro Bowler Sheldon Richardson.

Junior Josh Augusta (6-foot-4, 345 pounds) is a big man. Despite how big he is, Augusta is one of the most athletic players on the team. This was evidenced by his interception against Central Florida where he was able to track the ball in the air and snatch it, before causing a small earthquake at Farout Field. Well maybe not, but that was a great play.

He was one of a few true freshman to play in 2013, and had nine tackles, two for loss, and two sacks. In 2014, he was in the rotation a lot more and had 23 tackles, four-and-a-half for loss, a sack, and two forced fumbles, and that interception.

Augusta athleticism is freakish at his size, and in high school he played wide receiver on offense at Peoria High School. Don’t believe it? Watch him go to work against some very undersized secondaries.

Dec 6, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Blake Sims (6) runs for a first down as he is tackled by Missouri Tigers defensive lineman Josh Augusta (97) in the fourth quarter of the 2014 SEC Championship at the Georgia Dome. Alabama beat Missouri 42-13. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Brantley is also near freakish. We mentioned his fake punts above, and that may have something to do with him playing running back and being the return man in high school in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Pinkel jokingly said Brantley might see some time at running back in 2o15, and given his high school tape, Pinkel should seriously consider in goal-situations.

Beyond those two, it’s a bit of a mystery of what the defensive tackle position will bring. The latest depth chart says that redshirt juniors Ricky Hatley and Evan Winston will be backing up Brantley and Augusta, respectively. Unlike Winston, Hatley was in the rotation at d-end and the interior.

Hatley may very well move to the outside of the line if Charles Harris and Marcus Loud need some help. Nothing is set in stone, and it’ll likely change in the summer when Tyrell Jacobs, and phenom Terry Beckner Jr. arrive.

We’ll talk about them when they get to campus, but position coach Craig Kuligowski knows that those two have the talent to crack the rotation as true freshmen. #DLineZOU continues on, except this year the force is coming from the interior of Brantley and Augusta.