Nearly to the end of its spring camp, Missouri is adding a seasoned veteran to its off-the-field defensive staff.
Sources tell FootballScoop that David Blackwell is joining the Tigers' staff of Eli Drinkwitz to serve as a senior defensive analyst.
Missouri, coming off a season in which it again earned a bowl berth under Drinkwitz and saw its head coach rewarded with a new, long-term contract extension, is scheduled to conclude spring camp Saturday with the program's annual Black and Gold game. The contest has been moved indoors and closed to the public because unseasonably cold temperatures and weather conditions have been projected.
So, who is Blackwell? He's run defenses at the Football Bowls Subdivision level for East Carolina, Louisiana Tech and Old Dominion.
Additionally, the veteran Blackwell has considerable Power 5 coaching experience. Among his earlier stops along his climb to become a defensive coordinator, Blackwell coached at Clemson, Pittsburgh and South Florida.
Also a former recruiting coordinator at Illinois State and Clemson, Blackwell has logged some half-dozen seasons as a collegiate defensive coordinator.
Missouri opens its 2023 season Sept. 2 at home against South Dakota. The Tigers begin the Southeastern Conference portion of their schedule Sept. 30 against Vanderbilt, a contest that caps a five-game opening month for Missouri.