Missouri Football: Ronnell Perkins is Tigers’ secret star

Missouri football has a secret weapon. Redshirt sophomore Ronnell Perkins will emerge from an up and down Tiger secondary in 2017.

The Tiger passing defense was not good in 2016. Kind of. Missouri gave up yards in bunches, but managed to bail themselves out of the SEC cellar with opportunistic interceptions. Then, before they had time to catch their breath, the offense had gone three and out and it was their turn to take the field again.

Mizzou quarterback Drew Locke has one more year of experience and there is some hope for the Tiger offense this season. However, there’s a decent chance that the Tiger defense is able to take the bigger step forward.

We’re not going to go as far as to say the sky is the limit for this unit, but upside is there. If they are able to make a significant improvement they’re going to need a new face to emerge. Enter Ronnell Perkins. A two-way player in high school, Perkins has transitioned to being a full-time safety for the Tigers. He played in all 12 of Missouri’s games a year ago, earning four starts.

In limited action, Perkins tallied 43 tackles (3.5 for a loss) and two passes defended. That glimpse of what he could be earned him a place on the 2016 All-SEC freshman team. Perkins has since continued to see his stock rise. He picked up a sack and an interception in the Black and Gold Spring Game and by all remarks had a fantastic spring.

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There’s so much potential with him, but he hasn’t done anything truly noteworthy – yet. But it’s just a matter of time. The Tiger defense is going to be better this season, and those strides are going to come on the back of Ronnell Perkins.