Mizzou Football: 3 players who need to step up with the injury to Darris Smith

On Wednesday morning, we received devastating injury news regarding EDGE rusher Darris Smith. The Georgia transfer, who hadn't seen many meaningful opportunities with the Bulldogs, was poised for significant playing time with Missouri in 2024. Unfortunately, he suffered a season-ending knee injury during practice on Tuesday after colliding with a teammate in one-on-one drills.

Smith was a player fans were excited to watch this season, as he was expected to play a major role. With his injury, let's explore some options of players who could step up in his place.

1. Zion Young

Young was one of Missouri's top portal additions this past year. After establishing himself as a starter at Michigan State during his sophomore season, Young transferred to Missouri with two years of eligibility remaining. He has impressed in camp, and with Smith's injury, he's almost certain to step into a starting role on the defensive line. Young is a versatile player who can pressure the quarterback and hold his own as a solid run stopper. He’ll be exciting to watch this season, and his role has become even more critical. Last year at Michigan State, Young recorded 26 tackles, including five tackles for loss and two sacks.

2. Joe Moore

Moore began his college career at Arizona State, redshirting his freshman season in 2020. After gaining experience with the program, he made significant strides over the next two seasons, seeing substantial action by the time he was a redshirt sophomore. Following three years with Arizona State, Moore transferred to Missouri last offseason. In his first year with the Tigers in 2023, he appeared in 12 games, primarily in a special teams and reserve linebacker role. Heading into 2024, Moore has been trending well in practice, and with Smith's injury, he’s poised to see more playing time. With two years of eligibility remaining, Moore could be in for a breakout season with increased opportunities.

3. Eddie Kelly

Kelly is a versatile transfer who has made significant impacts at both Georgia Tech and South Florida. His skill set is invaluable, allowing him to play multiple positions on defense, and with Smith's injury, you can expect to see him taking on more snaps at EDGE. Kelly has shown promise everywhere he's played, and he fits a similar mold to Missouri's 2024 first-round NFL Draft pick, Darius Robinson. While it's unfortunate that his increased role comes due to the loss of a key player, it will be exciting to see Kelly step up. He’s more than capable of playing multiple positions, and we can expect to see him frequently backing up Johnny Walker Jr. this season.

Missouri also has two freshmen, Williams Nwaneri and Jaylen Brown, on the roster, but it's unlikely they'll see significant action this season. As true freshmen, there's simply too much talent and experience ahead of them. They'll likely spend 2024 learning from the more seasoned players before being fully integrated into the lineup in the near future.

The loss of Darris Smith is certainly a tough pill to swallow, but it opens the door for several talented players to see increased opportunities. Missouri boasts a strong defensive unit, and while this preseason injury is definitely a setback, they should have the depth to overcome it.