Dowell Anchors Missouri's Defensive Tackle Rotation

Sophomore Jason Dowell is the energetic center of Missouri's defensive line, playing alongside three other tackles who share the snap load.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Football

Dowell Anchors Missouri's Defensive Tackle Rotation

Missouri's defensive tackle room features Jason Dowell, Jalen Marshall, Donta Simpson and Marquis Gracial, each logging between 205 and 253 snaps this season. The unit has helped Missouri rank third in the SEC in rushing yards allowed per game, holding opponents under 100 yards per game.

Why it matters

A deep rotation of tackles that each play heavy snap counts gives Missouri's rushing defense depth and durability across a conference schedule. Dowell's role as the loudest voice on the line reflects how the unit's energy contributes to its performance.

Each of Missouri's four defensive tackles has logged between 205 and 253 snaps this season, with Donta Simpson leading the group with six sacks and Jason Dowell leading in tackles with 18. The extraction does not indicate how these totals compare to prior seasons or to other SEC defensive tackle rotations.

The players

Jason Dowell

Jason Dowell is a sophomore defensive tackle for Missouri who leads the tackle group in snaps and tackles this season and is known for his animated pass-rush celebrations inspired by anime and mixed martial arts.

Donta Simpson

Donta Simpson is a Missouri defensive tackle who leads the group with six sacks this season.

The details

Jason Dowell, a sophomore, leads the defensive tackles in snaps and celebrates pass rushes and run stops with a four-part sequence of flailing, flexing and energetic expression. He also leads the team's prayer before games on Friday and is the loudest Tiger on the sideline every Saturday.

Last season, Dowell played three games.
Tuesday, Dowell and Santana Banner spoke at a press conference.
Every Saturday during games, Dowell is the loudest Tiger.
Every Friday, Dowell leads a team prayer before games.

Season Trajectory

Missouri's third-ranked SEC rushing defense, which holds opponents under 100 yards per game, places the defensive tackle rotation among the conference's stronger run-stopping units. The depth of four tackles sharing heavy snap counts positions the group to sustain that standing through the rest of the season.

Dowell's 18 tackles lead the tackle group, making him a notable name for fantasy and defensive-stat tracking in Missouri's conference games. Fans following the Tigers' run defense can track whether the four-tackle rotation keeps the SEC third-place rushing mark intact.

The takeaway

Depth matters on the defensive line: a four-player tackle rotation that shares snaps keeps Missouri's run defense fresh across a conference schedule, a pattern worth watching as the season develops.