Missouri football appoints Corey Batoon as the Tigers’ latest defensive coordinator.
The Missouri Tigers are poised to appoint Corey Batoon, the recently departed defensive coordinator from South Alabama, to assume the same role in Columbia. Following Blake Baker’s move to LSU earlier this month, Eli Drinkwitz acted swiftly in securing his replacement.
Batoon has held coordinator and positional coaching positions at various locations nationwide, including Hawaii, Liberty, and Florida Atlantic. During his three-year tenure with the Jaguars in Mobile, Batoon’s defensive squads consistently ranked among the top thirty nationally, peaking at fifteenth in the 2023 season.
Considering what this hire could signify for the Tigers, Batoon brings a wealth of defensive expertise and inherits arguably the most talented group he has ever coached at Missouri. The Tigers have been active in the transfer portal, securing players like former 4-stars Darris Smith from Georgia and Toriano Pride, Jr. from Clemson, alongside returning talents such as Joseph Charleston and Chuck Smith, both of whom were key contributors to the team’s defense in 2023.
Moreover, Drinkwitz and his staff have excelled in recruiting this offseason, securing commitments from 5-star edge rusher Williams Nwaneri and 4-star defensive lineman Jaylen Brown. With Missouri coming off one of its most successful seasons in history, expectations are soaring for the 2024 season, and the Tigers appear to be assembling a roster capable of meeting those lofty goals.
