Report: Missouri Hires Houston's Brian Early as Defensive Line Coach
After successful talks on Wednesday, the Missouri football team officially hired Houston defensive line coach Brian Early for the same position on Friday morning, per multiple reports. Early will be taking the job despite being retained by new Houston head coach Willie Fritz back in December.
This hire stems from the departure of former Missouri defensive line coach Kevin Peoples, who went to LSU as an assistant coach on Jan. 12. Peoples' had some extra motivation to go to Baton Rouge, La., after former Missouri defensive coordinator Blake Baker went there for the same position on Jan. 5. Former South Alabama defensive coordinator Corey Batoon was hired by Missouri as Baker's successor on Jan. 26.
While at Mizzou, Peoples mostly mentored the edge rushers/defensive ends while fellow defensive line coach Al Davis worked with the interiors. It is expected that Early will follow in Peoples' footsteps and develop the exteriors.
Early was hired by Houston on Jan. 18, 2019, after five seasons in the same position at Arkansas State. Throughout his time with the Cougars, he's mentored seven all-conference selections and helped develop six future NFL players. In the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Houston finished top-15 in the nation in sacks and tackles for loss (total and average).
Additionally, Early made a big impact in JUCO recruiting during his time in Houston. Perhaps most notably, he assisted in the persuasion of wide receiver Nathaniel "Tank" Dell's commitment. The 2023 third-round rookie was a key piece in the Houston Texans' best season in quite some time before he suffered a season-ending injury.
Missouri head football coach Eli Drinkwitz and his staff are hoping Early's impressive resumé will translate in Columbia, Mo, and that he and Batoon will help develop a stout defense in 2024.
