Before the season began, Eli Drinkwitz decided to make Missouri football defensive ends coach Brian Early “sweat with it.”
Drinkwitz called the group of edge rushers some of the best in the country.
Well, no sweat for Early and his defensive ends. The group mostly lived up to the high billing. Both of the Tigers’ starting edge rushers made the Coaches All-SEC teams, with Zion Young taking first-team honors and Damon Wilson II landing on the all-conference second-team.
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The productive group could be about to see some offseason change. Mizzou knows that it’s going to lose at least one starter. Another could potentially declare for the draft early.
In 2026, the face of this room could be quite different.
Here’s what you need to know about Missouri football’s defensive ends entering the offseason, including who is likely to leave, who can return, whether or not the Tigers will be active in the transfer portal at this position and more:
Who is graduating, heading to the NFL, transferring?
Star defensive end Zion Young is out of eligibility after the bowl game, and recently appeared among ESPN writer Matt Miller’s top-50 draft prospects. That’s a major on-field and locker-room loss for Missouri. He was a standard-setter.
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There is a chance that both of Mizzou’s starters are draft-bound, as Damon Wilson II is eligible to declare for the draft after his junior season. He is currently projected as a top-100 prospect, and his choice is likely to come in the upcoming days.
No Mizzou defensive ends, as of Dec. 10, have announced an intention to enter the transfer portal when it officially opens Jan. 2.
Who can return in 2026, who is in signing class?
All class classifications are based on how players will be listed in 2026.
Eligible returners: Damon Wilson II, sr.; Darris Smith, r-sr.; Nate Johnson, sr.; Langden Kitchen, sr.; Javion Hilson, r-fr.; Daeden Hopkins, r-fr.
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Class of 2026 signees: DeMarcus Johnson, so. (JUCO transfer)
If Mizzou can get Wilson to return for one more season, that would be a major addition to the Tigers’ depth. He would likely form a duo with Smith on the boundary edge, which would be a formidable returning duo.
Kitchen played more than Johnson on the field end behind Young. Hilson and Hopkins preserved redshirts.
What does Mizzou need to add?
Oct 18, 2025; Auburn, Alabama, USA; Missouri Tigers defensive end Zion Young (9) moves in to tackle Auburn Tigers quarterback Jackson Arnold (11) during the fourth quarter at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Reed-Imagn Images
We’d expect Mizzou to chase at least one edge rusher in the portal. Depending on Wilson’s decision, that could become two, although the addition of Johnson from the JUCO ranks is intriguing.
This is a position, as Mizzou showed with Young and Wilson out of the portal in back-to-back seasons, where you can add an instant gamechanger.
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Even if Wilson goes, Smith looks like he could be a starting pass rusher for the Tigers in his final season. Beyond that, some development still needs to take place.
Defensive end 2025 season grade: A
This was perhaps the best position group on what was a great defensive effort in 2025. Drinkwitz teased that the Tigers’ defensive ends might be among the best in the country before the season started, and he wasn’t far off the mark.
Young and Wilson both were two of the SEC’s top-three pass rushers, with 48 and 49 QB pressures, respectively. Only Texas’ Collin Simmons had more in the conference with 53.
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Smith was a strong, versatile option in the rotation, playing some outside linebacker and even lining up at tackle in some formations. Kitchen made a seamless leap up from the Division-II level to the SEC.
It was a great year for the pass-rush in Columbia. That earns a top grade from us.
Nov 15, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs quarterback Blake Shapen (2) throws a pass as Missouri Tigers defensive end Damon Wilson II (8) and defensive end Zion Young (9) defend during the first half of the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
Prediction for next season. What will unit look like?
Starters: Boundary end: Damon Wilson II; Field end: Transfer.
Rotation: Boundary: Darris Smith, Javion Hilson; Field: Langden Kitchen, DeMarcus Johnson.
The major lingering question is whether Wilson returns. If he does, that’s Mizzou’s gain. If he doesn’t, either Smith moves into a starting role or Mizzou is looking for an instant-impact transfer and the boundary edge rushing spot.
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At 6-7, 260 pounds, Johnson is a prime candidate to take some reps at the field-end position for the Tigers after making the leap up from the JUCO level.
More: 5 Missouri football players who will benefit most from Gator Bowl practices
More: Missouri football grades of offensive line, predictions for 2026
We’d imagine Mizzou will be looking for a player with Young’s measurables and skillset to take the starting role there, but Johnson and Kitchen are solid depth pieces, if they both opt to return.
But, there’s a good chance this is a returner-heavy group.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Grading Missouri football edge rushers in 2025, predicting ’26 starters
