COLUMBIA, MO. • Donavin Newsom started all 12 games for Missouri last year at strongside linebacker, so when his position coach and defensive coordinator was promoted to head coach, he figured he had it made.
Wrong.
Midway through spring practices, the senior from Parkway North found himself working with the No. 2 defense. Terez Hall, a 2015 freshman who played on special teams, took his place with the starters.
Newsom quickly learned coach Barry Odom wouldn’t play favorites in his new role. New defensive coordinator DeMontie Cross took over the linebacker group, and as well as Newsom played last fall — he had 63 tackles, nine behind the line of scrimmage — he had to prove himself all over again.