COLUMBIA, Mo. 鈥 Few things crystallize the vast gap in physical ability between a top-tier college athlete and a regular ol鈥 human like Missouri linebacker Khalil Jacobs鈥 injury recovery.
He tore his right pectoral muscle during the Tigers鈥 Oct. 12, 2024, win at Massachusetts, which ended his first season in black and gold prematurely. It was the kind of injury that, for most, would require fairly extensive healing and rehab.
Yet just three months later, Jacobs was back feeling like his normal self. And how did he know that?
鈥淚 was able to start doing push-ups one-handed again,鈥 he said.
Must be nice.
Even by season-ending injury standards, Jacobs鈥 2024 pec tear was particularly cruel.
He鈥檇 transferred to Mizzou from South Alabama, following defensive coordinator Corey Batoon to Columbia. As the season unfolded, it became clear why Batoon invited him along.
People are also reading…
Jacobs brought a degree of athleticism and versatility to the linebacker corps that stood out within MU鈥檚 defense. He could slot in as the weak-side linebacker when the Tigers put their usual two 鈥榖ackers on the field, but he also created a unique role on third downs.
At times, Missouri would exchange one of its linebackers for an extra defensive back, dropping into a 3-1-7 formation. On those plays, Jacobs was often the lone linebacker, tasked with covering more ground than he might otherwise have needed to.
His mobility was his chief asset and part of what hurt him on a fairly innocuous play against UMass.
鈥淚t was a play where the quarterback got outside the pocket,鈥 Jacobs said. 鈥... I went down to go get him, and I made a 鈥榞ator roll鈥 tackle but I didn鈥檛 finish through all the way, and I felt a pop in my right pec, in my shoulder. I didn鈥檛 feel it at first because, you know, adrenaline or whatever. I was planning on going back in, but my trainers told me to come into the tent to see what was wrong with me.鈥
(A gator roll tackle is a technique for tackling in space that involves launching low, wrapping up the ball-carrier and taking them down by rolling, similar to how an alligator will take down its prey.)
The injury came just as Jacobs was settling in with Mizzou.
鈥淚 always dreamed of playing in the SEC,鈥 he said, 鈥渟o finally getting that shot and then it being taken away from me in an instant shook me up a little bit.鈥
The shock didn鈥檛 seem to faze him for long, especially once he got back to performing one-handed push-ups on the regular.
During the offseason and first half of fall camp, MU coaches have been effusive in their praise of Jacobs鈥 work ethic and understanding of Batoon鈥檚 defensive system.
鈥淜halil Jacobs has been unbelievable,鈥 coach Eli Drinkwitz said, 鈥渏ust his passion and authority on the field.鈥
It鈥檚 easy to lose sight of Jacobs amid the talent within the Tigers鈥 room of linebackers, which rivals the defensive ends as the program鈥檚 deepest position group.
Outside linebacker Triston Newson, at this point one of college football鈥檚 most experienced linebackers, has returned via an eligibility waiver granted to former junior college players. New middle linebacker Josiah Trotter was a freshman All-American at West Virginia. Up-and-comers Nick Rodriguez and Jeremiah Beasley will push for playing time this season.
If anyone forgot to factor Jacobs into that mix after he missed the back half of last season, that鈥檚 a mistake to be promptly undone.
鈥淗e ain鈥檛 forgotten about in this building,鈥 linebackers coach Derek Nicholson said. 鈥淜halil has really taken a step in his development, in his process. He loves football. He鈥檚 here in the building, doing things to get better all the time, in the classroom, football field, asking great questions, watching film, watching tape. He eats it up, he really does. He鈥檚 a guy that genuinely loves the game.
鈥淎nd he brings a different skill set. Khalil is an explosive football player that can run, change direction really, really well. He has a really good overall knowledge of what we鈥檙e doing, what we鈥檙e asking him to do (because of) him being in the system for a while.鈥
Camp notes
The open portion of Missouri鈥檚 Thursday practice proceeded much like other fall camp training sessions, without much of significance put on display for media.
The Tigers have been repping kickoff coverage more over the past few days as they progress through building out various special teams groups.
Though he hasn鈥檛 been declared the starting left tackle yet, returner Jayven Richardson seems to be consistently working alongside first-team offensive linemen more than Johnny Williams IV. That competition may be the first one settled during camp.
In today鈥檚 10 AM 鈥淭en Hochman鈥 video, Ben Hochman shares a story about Mizzou QB Beau Pribula! Plus, a happy birthday shoutout to Ken Phelps! And as always, Hochman picks a random Cards card out of the hat!
