The Missouri Tigers open camp on August 4th, which is now just five days away. Over these 25 days, PowerMizzou.com is counting down the 25 players on the roster who will be most influential in determining just how good the Tigers are this season. To be clear, this is not a list of the 25 best players on the roster. It is not a list of the players that will have the biggest seasons or put up the best numbers. In reverse order, we are counting down the 25 players who we think could have the most influence on the outcome of the 12 games on Missouri's 2007 schedule.

5. Brock Christopher

Why he's on the list: Ask most Tiger fans their issue with the defense the last few seasons and the answer you will get is that Missouri has lacked a middle linebacker with the attitude and the ferocity to be a difference maker at the position. Whether or not it is true, Christopher needs to be what many thought Harrington would be. The middle linebacker is the captain of your defense. He not only has to be good, he has to be a leader. Teammates say all the right things about Christopher in both regards, but the proof will come on the field this year. Oregon State simply destroyed the Tiger line backing corps with medium range passes. Missouri also had trouble stopping the run all season long. The biggest room for improvement on this defense may lie at linebacker and Christopher is a major part of that.



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