Mizzou linebackers 2026 are at the center of the Tigers’ offseason story because the unit lost multiple contributors to the NFL while returning a clear internal leader.
The room now hinges on Nicholas Rodriguez — who made a major leap in 2025 — and newcomer Robert Woodyard Jr. and the early returns shape how Missouri will defend the run and construct depth in 2026 as outlined by Rock M Nation.
Key Takeaways
- Projected 2026 starters are Robert Woodyard Jr. and Nicholas Rodriguez as the Tigers retool a linebacking corps that lost multiple key contributors.
- Nicholas Rodriguez increased his snap count from 83 to 352 in 2025 and finished with 62 tackles while earning a strong run-defense grade from Pro Football Focus.
- Robert Woodyard Jr. transferred from Auburn after a 2025 season that included 432 defensive snaps, 67 tackles and seven tackles for loss and enters 2026 as a projected starter.
- Depth behind the starters is unsettled with Jeremiah Beasley listed as the primary backup and freshmen JJ Bush and Keenan Harris offering early upside.
Mizzou linebackers 2026 projected starters and roles
Nicholas Rodriguez’s jump in usage last season changes how the staff can deploy the front seven in 2026.
Rodriguez moved from a peripheral role to the most experienced returning linebacker after his snap total climbed from 83 to 352, making him one of the unit’s primary playmakers in 2025.
Rodriguez role after a major snap jump
Rodriguez finished 2025 with 62 tackles and earned an 86.4 run-defense grade and a 78.4 tackling grade from Pro Football Focus, marks that underline his reliability against the run.
That increase in responsibility positions him as a leader entering his true junior season and a steadying presence while Missouri replaces departures from the previous rotation.
What Woodyard brings from Auburn
Robert Woodyard Jr. arrives from Auburn after a productive SEC season where he logged 432 defensive snaps and collected 67 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks.
He enters 2026 as a projected starter with preseason third-team All-SEC recognition and provides immediate experience against Power Five competition.
Younger depth and freshman upside
Jeremiah Beasley is listed as the primary backup after recording 81 defensive snaps for Missouri in 2025 and received looks at expanded roles during camp.
Freshmen JJ Bush and Keenan Harris bring high-school production and special-teams upside; Bush posted 69 tackles and six sacks as a senior, while Harris’s multi-role high-school output included seven sacks and offensive contributions.
2025 linebacker production comparison table
| Player | 2025 Defensive Snaps | 2025 Tackles | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicholas Rodriguez | 352 | 62 | Major snap jump from 83 in the previous season and strong PFF run-defense and tackling grades |
| Robert Woodyard Jr. | 432 | 67 | Transfer from Auburn with seven tackles for loss and preseason third-team All-SEC recognition |
| Jeremiah Beasley | 81 | — | Primary backup role in 2025 with camp mentions about stepping into a larger role |
How Missouri linebackers affect SEC recruiting and roster construction
With Trotter and Khalil Jacobs gone to the NFL after 2025, Missouri must blend veteran returns, a high-profile transfer and developing underclassmen to recreate the chemistry lost from last year.
The addition of Woodyard via the transfer portal shows the staff is targeting immediate defensive help, while freshmen with high-school production offer tangible proof points for recruiting and early playing opportunity.
The speed at which backups convert into dependable starters will shape Missouri’s defensive identity in 2026 and influence in-state recruiting momentum and future portal strategy, and the reporting linked above is the basis for these details.
