You want a player tailor-made for Mizzou’s aggressive, havoc-forward defense? This is your guy.
The good Mizzou recruiting vibes keep going as Jason King became the sixth commitment in the Tigers’ recruiting class of 2025 to verbally pledge his services to the black and gold.
That number – six – of commitments before the month of May is the most the Drinkwitz regime has ever obtained in their five recruiting cycles on campus.
Remember last year? When Mizzou was heading into June with two guys committed before the 4th of July explosion of commitments? Yeah, that’s not happening this year. And it feels great!
Let’s take a look at what Jason King bring to the table:
Where He Fits: King is listed at 6’1” 215 pounds and claims his position is Middle Linebacker. And yet his film shows him lining up as a slot defender, as an edge rusher, and – yes – sometimes as a linebacker. When you do the standard size correction for high school prospects – probably more 5’11” or 6’0” and 195-200ish pounds – that height and weight is more safety-sized when you get to the college level and, frankly, his play reminds me of some of Mizzou’s more aggressive safeties of the past few years. Specifically, King runs through blocks with the ferocity of a Jaylon Carlies. He also has the hitting power and enthusiasm of a Daylan Carnell. I’m not sure if the coaches see him as a guy who can grow into an SEC linebacker-sized player or if they see his skillset as more of a strong safety or STAR safety but the dude is an aggressive pass rusher and a good tackler in space.
He also plays some wildcat quarterback which…ya know, isn’t really Mizzou’s thing but is fun to watch.
When He’ll Play: The linebacking depth is a little thin after this year but there’s no reason to think he’ll come in and start as a freshman. If he is truly going to be a linebacker, he needs time to bulk up. And even if he winds up being a bigger safety, he needs some time to season and acclimate to the SEC. The St. Louis high school football circuit is good but it ain’t so good that you can quickly transition to starting at that position when you’re that size.
What It All Means: Linebacker is a position of long-term need (ignoring whatever portal activity happens in the next year) and the staff is definitely stocking up at havoc-styled linebackers to backfill their depth. King could be a fun player and a guy who thrives in a havoc-forward defense; being yet another STL product that chooses Missouri is just another recruiting victory for Mizzou.