Could this designated QB spy be key to stopping Sellers, others?

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Leading up to the 2025 season, much has been made of Mizzou football’s depth, especially on defense. All three levels feature proven returners and promising newcomers, which could provide the coaching staff increased flexibility on both defense and special teams.

One of those returners is senior Khalil Jacobs, who had one of the more unique 2024 seasons compared to MU’s other main contributors.

While the injury bug ravaged other programs like Oklahoma and Utah last fall, it found its way to Missouri on a lesser scale. On offense, quarterback Brady Cook missed most of the Auburn and Alabama games (and all of the Oklahoma game) with an injury, and wide receiver Mookie Cooper missed the final six games of the season.

The only major casualty on defense, though, was Jacobs, who tore his right pectoral muscle while making a tackle against UMass on Oct. 12. He’d felt a pop in that area upon contact, but he didn’t feel any pain at first. Initially, he wanted to stay in the game, but MU trainers insisted on taking him to the injury tent. The muscle was torn. His season was over.

“It took me a minute to actually process what happened,” Jacobs said on Tuesday. “That was the first time I ever got a serious season-ending injury. It kind of shook me up for a little bit, but I realized I couldn’t harp on it too much, and I’ve got to get back to work.”

Jacobs said he felt normal by January, when he could again do one-handed push-ups, a regular part of his workouts. Now, Jacobs is not only back on the field, but has made waves with his presence.

“I think Khalil Jacobs has been unbelievable,” coach Eli Drinkwitz said on Saturday. “Just his passion and authority on the field and the way he encourages and discourages the offense with his play … he’s been really impressive to me.”

Before his season ended in Amherst, Jacobs mainly saw the field on third downs. As the only linebacker on defense in third-and-long situations, Jacobs was largely responsible for mirroring the opposing quarterback and pursuing him whenever he escaped the pocket. That’s how he picked up his first sack of the season against Murray State on Aug. 29, taking down a scrambling Jayden Johannsen for a one-yard loss.

Jacobs’ other sack came on a heavy blitz against Boston College on Sept. 14, as the linebacker flew around the right edge and wrapped up BC quarterback Thomas Castellanos by his legs. Even with Jacobs finding success as a blitzer, the South Alabama transfer found more satisfaction in his role as a QB spy amid a transition from the Sun Belt Conference to the Southeastern Conference.

“As the year went on, I got way more comfortable,” Jacobs told the Missourian. “I feel like whoever is out there that’s trying to run around and scramble, I can go get ‘em no matter who it is.”

[hdhntr148]

both Kahlil and Tristan are very fast LBers who can fill that role and the depth of the Lber group is amazing with four stars just being rotational players and not stepping into starting roles.plus it will make the special teams units that much better.