The Missouri Tigers linebacker room has character. Lots of it.
When searching for qualities in a linebacker, among the first things looked at are the physical tools –– frame, agility and tackling. What is arguably more important, however, is their voices.
Linebackers are essentially the quarterback of the defense, and need to flourish as leaders on the gridiron. For the Missouri Tigers, a big three of graduate student Triston Newson, senior Khalil Jacobs and redshirt sophomore Josiah Trotter have emerged as strong vocal presences in training camp –– each unique in their own way..
Jacobs debuted with the Tigers in 2024, but played just six games, missing the majority of the year after suffering a season-ending arm injury against the UMass Minutemen. He was understandably devastated, as it threw a major wrench in his plans.
“I always dreamed to play in the SEC,” Jacobs said. “So finally getting that shot and then it’d been taken away from me in an instant, it kind of shook me up a little bit.”
However, instead of feeling sorry for himself, Jacobs got right back to work in any capacity he could. Future Tigers working through the recovery process can now look to Jacobs, who’s done a stellar job of leading by example in that field.
“I think Khalil Jacobs –– who was starting before he got injured –– has really dedicated himself to this game and to our team,” head coach Eliah Drinkwitz said. “I’ve been really impressed with his leadership.”Jacobs went to great lengths to get back to full health, completing abstract exercises in his recovery process before returning to normality.
“I would say right around January, I was able to stop doing push-ups one-handed,” Jacobs said.
Jacobs is now at full strength, fully recovered from his injury and joins Newson as two key veteran leaders in the program.
Newson is entering a surprise sixth season of college football, after being granted an extra season of eligibility under the NCAA’s JUCO ruling. With 48 career games and 15 starts for the Tigers under his belt, he brings valuable experience to the linebacker room and plans to use his voice to full effect.
“I just want to be more vocal,” Newson said in a post-training camp interview. “Lead the younger guys, you know, lead them [in] the right direction.”
The Tigers brought in a strong transfer portal class ranked No. 7 in the nation by 247sports, including nine players on the defensive side of the ball. As Newson is the longest tenured linebacker, he feels it is his job to help transfers acclimate to doing things Missouri’s way.
“Holding them to the standard,” Newson said. “Making sure they’re doing everything the way it’s supposed to be done, holding them accountable.”
Jacobs agrees.
“It’s good to show the younger guys what it looks like to be on a Mizzou squad,” Jacobs said. “Be able to push these guys each and every single day, show them what it feels like to win.”
Jacobs has spent all five seasons of his collegiate career under Missouri defensive coordinator Corey Batoon –– more time than any other Tiger. He’s eager to use that knowledge to help newcomers adapt to the intricacies of competing in the Southeastern Conference.
One of those newcomers is the former West Virginia linebacker in Trotter, who’s now entering his sophomore season of college football. In his freshman campaign, Trotter compiled 92 tackles, four tackles for loss and an interception, earning Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year and multiple Freshman All-America honors. He’s an elite talent, but still young enough to be mentored by players like Jacobs and Newson.
“Pick [Jacobs’] brain about different things, different schemes you may see,” Trotter said. “Anything I may not know and have questions about, because at the end of the day, I’m still trying to grow as a person and a player… with [Jacobs] and Triston Newson as older guys in that locker room who played in the SEC, there’s a lot of questions I can ask them and learn.”
Trotter may be an understudy to those veterans, but his electric presence is already felt –– and heard –– on the field.
“He’s a dog,” Jacobs said. “It’s kind of hard to not to see him, he’s always growling after he makes a play… he’s hungry, he’s ready to compete for sure.”
While Newson and Jacobs provide a steady leadership presence, it seems that Trotter may find his niche as an explosive personality, making big momentum-changing plays to spark rallies. Between his athletic coverage ability and stout run defense, Trotter can hang with the big dogs in the SEC and adds a unique dimension to the Missouri linebacker room.
From the top dogs of Newson, Jacobs and Trotter, down to the depth pieces like Jeremiah Beasley and Nicholas Rodriguez, the Tigers’ linebacker room is loaded with talent.
“That is as deep a position as I think we could have,” Drinkwitz said.
Many units around the SEC are talented, but what makes this Missouri group special is its connectivity.
“Every day, each one of us get each other better,” Newson said. “All of us, we work off each other and get better every day.”
Copy edited by Ava Mohror | [email protected]
Edited by Chase Pray | [email protected]
