The Tigers secondary gets another crack at containing athletic freak Nyck Harbor this season, Will that match up go differently this year?
This summer leading up to the 2025 season, we’ll be exploring the top 10 offensive and defensive players Mizzou football is slated to face this fall. We’re not ranking them 1-10, so while Jalon Daniels is a very good player, he’s not necessarily the best offensive player Corey Batoon will have to game plan for this upcoming season.
This is the second post of the season. If you haven’t yet, take a look at last week’s TTOP featuring beaker Jalon Daniels and Alabama linebacker Nikhai Hill-Green.
Nyck Harbor
School: South Carolina
Position: WR
Class: Junior
Height: 6-5
Weight: 235 lbs.
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
What he’s done
Nyck Harbor enters his junior year projected to be one of the top wide receivers in the country in 2025. “Projected” is the key word, however, because production-wise, Harbor has yet to really break out on a consistent basis. He played in all 12 games his freshman year, starting the last five. He caught 12 passes for 195 yards and one touchdown that season and entered his sophomore campaign as a full-time starter. He performed better that season, catching 26 balls for 376 yards and three touchdowns which was good enough for second on the team.
Those numbers, however, are a far cry from what he’s projected to produce based on his massive frame and truly elite speed. In fact, Harbor, at 6-5, 235 lbs. might actually be a better track athlete than football player (right now anyway) as he has competed as a sprinter for the Gamecock Track & Field team and received and invite to the 2024 USA Track & Field Olympic Trials. He’s also the only athlete to appear as #1 on Bruce Feldman’s Freak List twice.
Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
What he’ll do
Up until now, Harbor has primarily been a “what if.” In his third season as a starter and second season teaming up with LaNorris Sellers, the time is now if he is going to break out. In his first two seasons, Harbor was a deep pass merchant, averaging more than 15 yards per reception. Look for him to continue being the Gamecocks’ number one deep ball threat as his elite speed and long frame will make it difficult for opposing corner backs to match him stride for stride.
In order to take the next step, Harbor will have to prove he can run other routes beyond go routes and deep posts. If he wants his production numbers to take off, he’ll need to effectively run shorter routes as well, which in turn will make it more difficult for safeties to key on his side of the field. If and when he runs a more complete route tree, that will make his deep threat all the more pronounced as opposing defenses will have to game plan for all contingencies as well as make him more of a red zone threat due to his size. I expect him to take a huge leap, perhaps even reaching 1,000 yards receiving and close to double-digit touchdowns in 2025.
Mizzou matchup
Harbor enjoyed one of the best games in his career against Mizzou in 2024, finishing with two catches for 69 yards and a touchdown in Columbia East last year. For the rematch in Columbia West this fall, the Tigers are going to have to prioritize keeping a lid on Harbor downfield if they want to prevent the Gamecocks from putting up more than 30 points on offense for the second season in a row.
Harbor is far and away the most dangerous receiver Sellers has to throw to so finding ways to bracket him with a corner and a safety as much as possible will be important. South Carolina isn’t as talented at running back and loses some offensive line talent as well, so if they can pressure Sellers to get rid of the ball before Harbor has time to get open downfield, the Tigers should be able to find ways to slow the Gamecocks down on offense.
Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
Deontae Lawson
School: Alabama
Position: LB
Class: RS Senior
Height: 6-2
Weight: 230 lbs.
Hometown: Mobile, Ala.
What he’s done
One of two repeat offenders that find themselves on both the 2024 and 2025 TTOP series, Deontae Lawson is one of the most experienced and productive defenders in the entire country. One of the few remaining holdovers from Nick Saban’s last Alabama defense, Lawson is a tackling machine with 194 tackles, five sacks and an interception to his name in his career so far.
Last season, Lawson earned third-team All-SEC honors despite having his season cut short by an injury against Oklahoma in November. He still finished ninth in the SEC in tackles with 76, 6.5 TFL and two sacks even though he missed the final two and a half games of the season.
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
What he’ll do
Lawson will continue to serve as the leader for Crimson Tide defensive coordinator Kane Wommack this season. He’s been a stalwart for Alabama for several years and will pair nicely with fellow TTOP member Nikhai Hill-Green to create one of the best linebacking corps in the nation. Now in his second year under Wommack’s system, Lawson should be even more comfortable making calls for the defense and finding ways to wreak destruction on opposing offenses.
Injuries have always been the bugaboo for Lawson, shortening both his sophomore and junior campaigns. If Lawson can remain healthy for double-digit games this season (for the first time in his career) then expect his havoc numbers to jump from 2-3 sacks and one interception to perhaps five or more sacks and multiple turnovers forced.
Mizzou matchup
Deontae Lawson is the type of player that can absolutely ruin the day of an offense, whether he’s properly accounted for or not. The range-y middle linebacker can make plays all over the field, whether it’s defending the run, covering receivers downfield or rushing the passer. The best way to game plan for a player like Lawson is to keep him (and his play caller) off balance and playing off his heels rather than downhill.
Kirby Moore will need find ways to call runs during passing downs, passes during early downs, and mixing up his blocking and route schemes throughout the game so that Lawson never knows what’s coming next. Lawson’s range will make it challenging to succeed using Drinkwitz’s patented stretch run plays, so finding holes up the middle in the run game will be important to keep Lawson guessing.