COLUMBIA, Mo. — Defensive line coach Al Davis resigned Friday, requiring some offseason adjustment to the Tigers' coaching staff.
Davis stepped down to attend to a family matter, he said in a statement.
David Blackwell, an assistant coach who worked primarily with Mizzou's defensive tackles will take on Davis' title. Brian Early, who works with defensive ends, remains in his role.Â
Davis first joined MU in 2021 as an analyst before head coach Eli Drinkwitz promoted him to defensive line coach later that year.Â
"Today I accepted Coach Davis' resignation, as he is stepping away from our program," Drinkwitz said in a statement. "I want to thank him for his time with us and wish him the best moving forward."
"I want to thank Coach Drinkwitz for giving me the opportunity to coach here over the last few years and wish the program well," Davis said in a statement. "They have a bright future under his leadership."
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Blackwell moved into a coaching role last season after spending the 2023 campaign as an analyst. He previously has been a defensive coordinator at several schools including Ïã¸ÛÈý¼¶Æ¬iana Tech, East Carolina and Jacksonville State.
"We are fortunate to have a veteran in David to be able to step in and fill any additional coaching needs we might have at that position," Drinkwitz said. "We're looking forward to a seamless transition as we continue preparations for the 2025 season."
This is the second change to the Missouri coaching staff to take place since the end of the 2024 season. Co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach D.J. Smith departed just before the Music City Bowl to become Appalachian State's defensive coordinator, leading Mizzou to hire Derek Nicholson as Smith's replacement.
Second recruit in a week decommits
In a decision certainly tied to Davis' exit, four-star defensive lineman Anthony Kennedy Jr. decommitted from Mizzou Friday night. Kennedy, who hails from Little Rock, Arkansas, had been the first player in the 2026 recruiting cycle to commit to the Tigers.
His decision to walk back that decision makes him the second player to do so this week after three-star safety D'Montae Tims — who'd been committed to MU for less than six weeks — did so Thursday.
Mizzou now has just one verbal commitment for 2026, quarterback Gavin Sidwar, though that tally will rebound fairly soon with a summer wave of official visits on deck.
