
The defensive end out of Huntsville is the type of player programs are built around.
Who’s that guy that transitioned from the Division II football ranks a few years ago? The guy who grew up in-state and played well at the lower level before shooting his shot at an SEC program? If I recall, things turned out pretty good for him…
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Oh right! Cody Schrader!
Obviously we all remember Schrader’s rags-to-riches story coalescing in a magical season where he finished in the Top 10 of Heisman voting and set Mizzou’s all-time single season rushing record. But one of the most under-appreciated things about Schrader’s time at Mizzou was the way he set the standard for the program’s success. There’s a reason Eli Drinkwitz has branded preferred walk-ons as “Rocks of the Program.” Not only is it smart branding — look at all those rocks on the lawn, they make up the shape of an “M”! — but it’s a statement about building success. If the guys at the bottom of the ladder are bought in, chances are others will be as well.
Langden Kitchen, Mizzou’s newest Division II transplant, isn’t starting as low on the totem pole as Schrader did. In fact, Mizzou went out of its way to bring Kitchen, a Huntsville native, back home for his final two years of college eligibility. But there are shades of Schrader’s story in Kitchen’s. He’s always been a talented football player who didn’t get scouted at the highest level out of high school. And after a few successful years at Northwest MO State, he’s out to show that he’s always been capable of contributing on the biggest stage.
Not to be too romantic about it all, but these are the types of guys you want in your program. No matter how successful you’ve been as a team, you always want guys with a chip on their shoulder. Something to prove. Especially when there’s a homecoming angle involved.
Time will tell if that’s Langden Kitchen’s story. But it does seem pre-written, doesn’t it?
Where He Fits: Despite the panic enveloping the fanbase over the departures of Williams Nwaneri and Jaylen Brown, the EDGE room is actually in good shape for 2025. The Tigers return most of their productive pass-rushers in Zion Young, Eddie Kelly, Jr., and Jakhai Lang, and will add Darris Smith — by all accounts, the most talented EDGE on the team — from his season-long injury. Alongside a crop of talented freshman, Kitchen will slot in nicely as experienced depth. He’s played for a winning program and understands the standards required to perform at a high level. At the very least, he’s a great program guy. At the best, he’s able to translate some of his Division II production and provide competition for the top-line guys.
When He’ll Play: If there’s anything you can get used to reading on these transfer recruiting resets, it’s something to the effect of, “he didn’t come here to sit on the bench.” Like almost every transfer, barring injury of course, Langden Kitchen will be logging snaps for Missouri in 2025.
What It All Means: Brian Early and Corey Batoon weren’t exactly in the DANGA ZOOOOOOONE when it came to EDGE depth, but they needed to add a little bit of veteran savvy to a room that would otherwise be full of youngsters on the two-deep. Bringing home Kitchen gives them some breathing room to slowly integrate the new guys while simultaneously adding a low-risk, high-reward type of player to the roster.
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