Darris Smith has quickly risen to prominence on Missouri’s defensive depth chart, landing at No. 5 on the Tigers’ 2026 roster of most indispensable players.
The former Georgia standout arrived in Columbia ahead of the 2024 season, but his debut was halted by a torn ACL suffered during fall camp, a setback that kept him sidelined for much of his first year with the program.
Building Momentum on the Edge
By the time the 2025 campaign concluded, Smith had begun to reclaim his form, logging 30 pressures and four sacks across 191 passing‑down snaps, while also adding roughly ten pounds of muscle in the offseason to handle the physical demands of a full‑time starter role.
What sets Smith apart is not just his statistical output but the certainty he brings to an edge‑rusher group that will rely heavily on his development; alongside him, veterans Langden Kitchen and Daeden Hoopkins are the other primary returners at the position.
The Tigers have bolstered the edge with five transfers, yet none possess the collegiate experience that Smith now carries, making his readiness to assume a starting role critical for the defense’s cohesion and for the team’s overall aspirations in the upcoming season.
Coaches and analysts alike are watching his progress closely, knowing that a healthy and productive Smith could reshape Missouri’s pass‑rush narrative and influence the program’s trajectory in the SEC.