Senior left tackle Yasir Durant, one of the Southeastern Conference’s best protectors of the pocket, is more impressed each day he finds himself between an edge rusher and his quarterback.
“They know more about the game. They’re smart. They’re not more experienced, but they know way more,” Durant said after Sunday’s practice, Mizzou’s third of the preseason and first in shoulder pads. “Their physicalness, their mind, their speed. It’s all at a whole different level.”
The Tigers will get 12 chances to live up to that endorsement during the regular season. Through the opening days of camp, Missouri hasn’t hid from the reality that last year’s rush wasn’t up the standard at a program that’s known for developing All-SEC performers, All-Americans and NFL draft picks at the defensive end position.