Mizzou Rules Out 2 Starting Edge Rushers for Florida Game

Q: With Missouri's starting edge rushers out, can breakout freshman Daeden Hopkins single-handedly dismantle Florida's offense?

No. Daeden Hopkins can be a game-changing piece for Missouri, but expecting him to single-handedly wreck Florida’s offense is too much, especially with both starting edge rushers unavailable. Hopkins has earned the hype. He emerged as Missouri’s most productive edge defender and was named SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week after a 3.5-sack performance against Mississippi State. He also leads the SEC in quarterback pressures and ranks near the top nationally, which shows his breakout is backed by consistent disruption, not just one big game. With Darris Smith out because of an ankle injury and Langden Kitchen sidelined by a lower-body injury, Hopkins is clearly the focal point of Missouri’s pass rush. Still, edge pressure rarely works as a one-man operation. Florida can slide protection toward Hopkins, chip him with tight ends or backs, and force someone else in Missouri’s front to win. That is why the Tigers’ depth pieces matter as much as Hopkins’ surge. Jaden Jones, Malik Bryant, Kamauryn Morgan, Cavan Tuley, Demarcus Johnson and CJ May are all expected to absorb more snaps, and Missouri will likely need a rotation rather than a single star carrying the entire rush. The better view is that Hopkins gives Missouri a real chance to disrupt Florida, not that he can do it alone. If he wins his share of matchups and the rest of the front supplies complementary pressure, Missouri can still affect the game. Without that support, Florida can game-plan around him.

3 articles · Updated · Columbia Missourian · Oct 3

Friday night’s SEC availability report listed Missouri starters Darris Smith and Langden Kitchen as out for the Florida game, thinning Mizzou’s pass-rush rotation.
Smith has been sidelined by an ankle injury suffered in Week 3 against Troy, while Kitchen left Missouri’s Week 4 game against Mississippi State with a lower-body injury.
The absences remove both starting edge rushers at once, forcing Missouri to adjust its defensive front heading into the Florida matchup.