Chris McClellan is anchoring the Mizzou D-line as new faces step in

The Missouri Tigers have talent all around their defense. 

But the defensive tackle position is putting a lot of its hopes on returning senior Chris McClellan.

McClellan returns to the Tigers as one of the better defensive tackles in the SEC. But after McClellan, the Tigers are asking for big steps up from guys increasing their roles.

The competition of the first week of camp has highlighted some of the guys in the defensive tackle room being asked to take big steps forward this year. Alongside McClellan and senior Sterling Webb, the Tigers brought in Ohio transfer Bralen Henderson. And McClellan said the 6-foot-2, 293-pound graduate has jumped right in.

“Bralen is a fifth-year guy, he brings that extra experience for us,” McClellan said. “He’s been a great player so far. … He tells me stuff that I don’t see sometimes, I tell him stuff that he maybe didn’t see. We’re all out there making each other better and helping each other out. It’s been awesome having him around.” 

And the Tigers seem likely to have redshirt junior Marquis Gracial in the rotation at the fourth defensive tackle spot. Gracial has received praise from coach Eliah Drinkwitz this week, and McClellan as well.

“Marquis grew a lot. He’s always been a player, but he’s starting to emerge as a guy now. We always compete in our room. He’s a good player, he pushes me to be better. I push him to be better.”

Leadership

McClellan has taken on a leadership role on the Tiger defense and he said the expected suspects have as well.

He said graduate safety Daylan Carnell, senior defensive end Zion Young, senior cornerback Toriano Pride have all taken on leadership roles. But he did throw in the somewhat unexpected name of West Virginia transfer linebacker Josiah Trotter who is going into his redshirt sophomore season.

He said all of them have been vocal helping the younger and newer players get to work through the first week of fall camp. And he said that first week of camp was full of competition.

“It’s been hot man, first couple of days, everybody has been excited to get out there, it’s been hot. People, we’re out there and getting into each other, but it’s all good. Iron sharpens iron. It’s good to go out there every day and have that competition.”

Just because he has the most experience in the room doesn’t mean McClellan is sitting back, though.

“Just getting out of my own head,” McClellan said of what he’s looking to improve from last season. “Playing for the success of others … just what I did last year, trying to bring on to this year as well. Like, I feel like team success brings individual success. So relying on my teammates to make plays out there with me is a big part of my game.”

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