MU’s Burkett leaves spring as starter at linebacker

COLUMBIA — Replacing the nation’s leading tackler is no easy task. But it’s a responsibility a handful of Missouri Tigers have vied for all spring.

With Kentrell Brothers and his 152 tackles headed for the NFL, a starting spot is there for the taking at weak-side linebacker. And the player currently holding that title? Jefferson City High School product Joey Burkett.

“Burkett has really come on,” defensive coordinator DeMontie Cross said. “We were trying to identify a guy to start and replace Brothers. No one guy will replace him, but Burkett has definitely done enough for me and for the defensive staff that somebody’s going to have to beat him out.

“He’s one of those guys that has been consistent each and every practice, and he’s gotten better. I’m confident playing him, and we’ll see where it goes from there.”

Cross, who also coaches Missouri’s linebackers, isn’t alone in his assessment that it will take more than one set of shoulder pads to account for those 152 tackles.

“I think (Brothers) was the leading tackler in the free world last year,” head coach Barry Odom said. “So obviously, when you have a guy like that (leave), that leaves a huge void. We’ve got a number of guys that have stepped in in training at that spot.”

Still, Cross said Burkett was the starter at weak-side linebacker from the beginning of spring camp through Saturday’s Black and Gold Game, which he started with the first-team defense.

“Somebody’s got to come in and compete with him,” Cross said, “and the guys that have been there haven’t moved up, haven’t shared any reps with him.”

Burkett’s lead competition at the spot is redshirt sophomore Brandon Lee. Trey Baldwin, Terez Hall, Eric Beisel and Roderick Winters have also spent time at the position.

“It’s a race every single day,” said Burkett, who will be a redshirt junior this fall. “It’s not only who plays well but who knows what they’re doing, and that’s mainly the big thing.”

The depth chart appeared to be fluid during spring camp. Lee called it “a pretty even battle” earlier this month, and Hall said the starter was “not solidified.” But it was Burkett taking the majority of the first-team reps Saturday.

“Joey did a lot of really good things,” said Odom, who was Missouri’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach last season. “It looked like things slowed down for him a little bit compared to last year, and excited for him to continue to make some progress.”

Though Brothers is gone, Burkett still has some help in the linebacker corps. Rising senior Michael Scherer was second on the team with 93 tackles last season, and has taken charge as the leader of the position group.

“Mike pretty much knows what’s going to happen before it actually happens,” Burkett said. “So whenever he tells you, ‘Hey, do this,’ you pretty much listen to him and the play will come right to you.”

With spring camp in the books, Scherer is confident the defense can make up for the loss of Brothers.

“Honestly, I didn’t know what was going to happen at the beginning of spring ball when we got out of winter conditioning,” Scherer said. “But the strides those guys have made, they proved they can play. Some people didn’t know before, and they proved they can play.”

Scherer said Burkett’s reps with the first-team defense in the spring game are an indication of his place on the depth chart.

“I think there’s a really good three-way position battle going on there at the Will, and Joey’s put himself out front right now,” Scherer said. “We’ll see how it pans out. It’s still going, but Joey’s definitely put himself out front with a really good spring.”

Last season, Burkett recorded his first unassisted tackle in Missouri’s season opener against Southeast Missouri State. He finished the game with six tackles, tied for third-most on the team. In 24 career games at the collegiate level, he has 10 tackles, half of which were unassisted.

Now, he’s ready to add to that number as a starting linebacker — even if the sum total isn’t 152.

“It’s a good feeling,” Burkett said. “Something you always want, been looking forward to your whole life.”