Missouri Rules Out Starting Edge Rusher Darris Smith at Mississippi State
The short version
- Missouri starting edge rusher Darris Smith is out after a lower-body injury against Troy.
- Daeden Hopkins, the SEC leader with 14 pressures, is expected to start in Smith's place.
- Running backs Ahmad Hardy and Malae Fonoti headline the Tigers' other absences.
- Mississippi State is without defensive tackles Trevion Williams and Diesel Moye; linebacker Zakari Tillman may debut.
- Kickoff is 6:45 p.m. CT Saturday at Davis Wade Stadium on SEC Network.
The Tigers will be missing their starting defensive end and top running backs when they visit the unbeaten Bulldogs in a top-25 SEC clash Saturday night.
Missouri will travel to Starkville without a starting defensive end. On the SEC availability report issued Friday night, the Tigers declared edge rusher Darris Smith out for Saturday's road game against Mississippi State, a meeting of top-25 teams in which both schools enter at 3-0.
Smith, listed at 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds, was hurt last Saturday during Missouri's victory over Troy. He needed assistance to leave the field, and after being checked for a lower-body injury he tried to come back in during the second half. That return lasted a single snap before he headed back to the bench for good.
With Smith unavailable, sophomore Daeden Hopkins is the probable replacement in the lineup. Hopkins has taken a regular share of snaps in the Tigers' end rotation and tops the SEC with 14 pressures this season. Langden Kitchen is slated to occupy the other end spot, with Jaden Jones, Malik Bryant, Kamauryn Morgan and Demarcus Johnson candidates to absorb additional playing time.
Missouri's backfield will also be shorthanded, as expected. Star running back Ahmad Hardy and backup Malae Fonoti were both listed out, and they have appeared on the report as out since Wednesday alongside reserve safety JaDon Blair and tight end Gavin Hoffman.
Hardy has been recovering after being shot in the upper leg in May, and no timetable exists for his return to game action. Coach Eli Drinkwitz has said the running back must string together two full weeks of practice at full speed before he will consider using him. Whether Hardy has practiced with the team at all since the season began is unknown.
Mississippi State (3-0, 1-0 SEC) has its own absences. Defensive tackles Trevion Williams and Diesel Moye were ruled out for the season earlier in the week and carry that designation on the availability report. Wide receiver Ayden Williams is also out for the Bulldogs.
There was encouraging news for the home side at linebacker. Zakari Tillman was moved off the injury report after previously being listed as probable, putting him in line to play for the first time this season when the Bulldogs face Mizzou.
Kickoff from Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Mississippi is set for 6:45 p.m. CT Saturday, with the broadcast on SEC Network. Both schools will publish a final availability list roughly 90 minutes before the game begins. Under SEC rules, conference members must file reports each night starting Wednesday ahead of league games, and inaccurate or late football filings can draw fines between $25,000 and $100,000 plus accountability measures for head coaches.
Missouri's full Friday report also lists right tackle Josh Atkins and defensive tackle Elias Williams as out.
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