Darris Smith transferred to Mizzou this season, after playing previously at Georgia. (Photo courtesy: On3)
COLUMBIA, MO — The University of Missouri football program announced on Thursday that junior defensive end Darris Smith suffered a knee injury in practice on Tuesday and will miss the entire 2024 season. Smith came to Missouri, after transferring from Georgia last December.
“We are devastated by the injury to Darris,” head coach Eli Drinkwitz said in the news release. “He was having an outstanding camp and was poised to have a great year. We will support Darris in his recovery and look forward to him returning stronger than before.”
Smith, a junior, was expected to be a consistent pass rusher in Missouri’s front seven after impressing the coaching staff during spring practices.
“Darris Smith shined bright in the spring game,” Drinkwitz said in March, “and he’s really flashed that way for us all spring.”
Smith did not see much playing time on his two seasons at Georgia. He appeared in five games as an outside linebacker in the 2023 season, recording just three tackles. In 2022, he saw limited action as a defensive linemen and special teamer.
Through the first two weeks of training camp at Mizzou, Smith had drawn rave reviews from the coaching staff. The Tigers return the highly-touted Johnny Walker, Jr. to start at one edge rush position and were expecting Smith to compete with Michigan State transfer Zion Young for the other starting spot.
With Smith out, Young will almost certainly be the choice to start. Joe Moore III and Georgia Tech transfer Eddie Kelly are likely to be the primary backups. Redshirt freshman Jahkai Lang could also figure into the rotation.
Mizzou does have two true freshman defensive ends in Williams Nwaneri and Jaylen Brown, but with plenty of experience ahead of them, it would still be surprising to see either of them break into the regular rotation consistently.
“Yeah, I’ve been really proud of that entire group,” Drinkwitz said last Saturday. “I think Zion Young, Johnny Walker have elevated themselves along with Darris. I think those three guys kind of stand out as far as you know, really understand what we’re doing down in, down out. I think Darris plays with an unbelievable motor, plays full speed.
“Zion Young had an incredible interception yesterday, tipped ball that he ended up picking himself so very impressed with the way those three guys are competing. Eddie Kelly, had a fumble recovery today that was really impressive off the pass rush move. Joe Moore’s continuing to show up and be steady and steady. Jahkai Lang has also been a guy. Those six are really where they’re at right now. And you know, the young guys, we’re just trying to get them to understand how to play the game.”
Smith did not redshirt at Georgia, so he will have this season as a redshirt year. He will still have two years of eligibility remaining.
Mizzou begins its season two weeks from today, on August 29, when it will host Murray State at Faurot Field.
MISSOURI TIGERS 2024 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE
| Date | Time | At | Opponent | Location | TV | Radio |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 29, 2024 (Thursday) | 7 PM | Home | Murray State | Columbia, Mo. / Faurot Field |  | Tiger Radio Network |
| September 7, 2024 (Saturday) | 6 PM | Home | Buffalo | Columbia, Mo. / Faurot Field |  | Tiger Radio Network |
| September 14, 2024 (Saturday) | 11:45 AM | Home | Boston College | Columbia, Mo. / Faurot Field | | Tiger Radio Network |
| September 21, 2024 (Saturday) | TBA | Home | Vanderbilt | Columbia, Mo. / Faurot Field | Tiger Radio Network | |
| October 5, 2024 (Saturday) | 11 AM | Away | #20 Texas A&M | College Station, Texas | Tiger Radio Network | |
| October 12, 2024 (Saturday) | TBA | Away | UMass | Amherst, Mass. | Tiger Radio Network | |
| October 19, 2024 (Saturday) | TBA | Home | Auburn | Columbia, Mo. / Faurot Field | Tiger Radio Network | |
| October 26, 2024 (Saturday) | TBA | Away | #5 Alabama | Tuscaloosa, Ala. | Tiger Radio Network | |
| November 9, 2024 (Saturday) | TBA | Home | #16 Oklahoma | Columbia, Mo. / Faurot Field | Tiger Radio Network | |
| November 16, 2024 (Saturday) | TBA | Away | South Carolina | Columbia, S.C. | Tiger Radio Network | |
| November 23, 2024 (Saturday) | TBA | Away | Mississippi State | Starkville, Miss. | Tiger Radio Network | |
| November 30, 2024 (Saturday) | TBA | Home | Arkansas | Columbia, Mo. / Faurot Field | Tiger Radio Network |