COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Football senior associate head coach Brick Haley has been nominated for the Broyles Award, which is given annually to the nation's top assistant coach. Haley, in his second year as Mizzou's defensive line coach, has helped coach one of the nation's most-feared and dominant defensive lines.
On the year, the strength of Mizzou's defense has been the interior defensive line and stuffing the opposition's run game. Against one of the nation's top rushing offenses last week, Mizzou once again proved why its run defense continues to be one of its strengths. The Tigers limited Florida to a season-low 113 yards while averaging just 4.04 yards per carry. Florida entered the contest boasting the SEC's No. 5 rushing offense (No. 42 nationally) at 193.9 yards per game. Mizzou held the Gators to 80 yards below their season average.
The performance by Mizzou's defense defending the run came just one week removed from limiting Kentucky, one of the nation's elite rushing attacks, to just 91 yards on 35 attempts (2.6 avg.).
Over the last 16 games, Mizzou is limiting opponents to 3.31 yards per carry and has held seven of its opponents to fewer than 100 yards during that 16-game stretch. For perspective's sake, Mizzou's 3.31 opponent yards per carry average would rank 19th nationally this season, 10th among Power Five teams and second in the SEC. The longest run Mizzou has allowed this season is just 23 yards, the nation's best mark.
Additionally, Haley oversees the Mizzou's dominant group of defensive tackles. Led by senior captain Terry Beckner, Jr., Mizzou's coaching staff has been thrilled with the play of that position this season. On the year, the group - comprised of Beckner, seniors Walter Palmore and Rashad Brandon, and sophomores Jordan Elliott and Kobie Whiteside - has combined for 67 tackles, 17.5 of which have been tackles for loss. The DT group also has 3.0 sacks and eight QB hurries with a fumble recovery. Beckner leads the group with his 21 tackles and team-high 7.5 tackles for loss as he turned down a chance to pursue the NFL to return to Mizzou for his senior season. Last week at Florida, Mizzou's DTs were very disruptive while limiting the Gators to a season-low 113 yards on the ground, combining for seven tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss and a QB hurry.
Mizzou's defensive ends, made up of mostly freshmen and sophomores, have also showed a lot of improvement as the year has progressed. The DE group is highlighted by 10.0 combined tackles for loss and 4.5 combined sacks from true sophomores Chris Turner, Tre Williams and Akial Byers as Haley has had plenty of production from a group of talented young edge rushers.
Haley and the Tigers return home this Saturday (Nov. 10) to host Vanderbilt at 11 a.m. on SEC Network. For all the latest on Mizzou Football, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on social media (Mizzou Football on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).