Top Ten Opposing Players: Cam Coleman and Will Echoles
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We’re back with our third issue of TTOP for the 2026 season. This summer we’ll be exploring the top 10 offensive and defensive players Mizzou football is slated to face this fall. We’re not ranking them 1-10, it’s much more scientific then that (or linguistic since we are just ordering them alphabetically.)
Here are our first two rounds:
So who’s up next? Mizzou’s third act matchup against Megatron Part Deux:
Cam Coleman
School: Texas (by way of Auburn)
Hometown: Phenix City, Ala.
Position: WR
Class: Junior
Height: 6-3
Weight: 200 lbs.
What He’s Done
Coleman arrived at Auburn in 2024 as one of the most decorated recruits in the country. The Alabama native was a consensus five-star prospect, ranked among the top wide receivers nationally and viewed as a future NFL player before he ever stepped onto a college field.
His freshman season offered flashes of that potential. Coleman finished with 37 receptions for 598 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging more than 16 yards per catch. At 6-3, 200 lbs., he immediately became Auburn’s most dangerous downfield threat and showed the ability to win contested catches against SEC defensive backs.
His sophomore season brought even bigger numbers. Coleman hauled in 62 receptions for 1,041 yards and nine touchdowns, accounting for a significant portion of Auburn’s incredibly poor passing offense. He established himself as one of the league’s top receivers despite playing in an offense that often struggled with consistency at quarterback and failed to maximize his talent.
The physical tools have never been in question. Coleman combines size, speed and body control in a way few receivers can. Defensive backs capable of matching him one-on-one are rare, and his catch radius makes him a constant threat even when he appears covered.
What He’ll Do
Few players generated more buzz in the transfer portal than Cam Coleman. After two seasons at Auburn, the former five-star recruit made one of the biggest moves of the offseason, leaving the Plains for Austin and immediately becoming one of the centerpieces of Texas’ 2026 roster.
Now comes the scary part for the rest of the SEC: Coleman leaves Auburn and joins a Texas program that has become one of the sport’s premier offensive operations under Steve Sarkisian. Instead of spending Saturdays trying to overcome inconsistent quarterback play and offensive dysfunction, Coleman now finds himself in an attack specifically designed to create explosive plays for elite receivers.
Sarkisian has a long track record of maximizing wide receiver talent, and Coleman may be the most gifted pass catcher he has coached in Austin. Pairing Coleman with Texas’ quarterback room gives him an opportunity to elevate his production to another level.
A year ago, opposing defenses could often focus on stopping Coleman because Auburn’s offense struggled to consistently punish them elsewhere. That won’t be the case at Texas. With more talent around him and a coaching staff that understands how to create favorable matchups, Coleman enters 2026 as a legitimate Biletnikoff Award candidate and first round draft pick projection.
Mizzou Matchup
Mizzou knows exactly how dangerous Coleman can be because the Tigers have seen him firsthand in each of the last two seasons.
In 2024, Mizzou largely kept the freshman receiver under wraps. Coleman finished with just one catch for 47 yards and a touchdown. The lone reception was explosive, but the Tigers prevented him from consistently impacting the game.
That changed dramatically in 2025 as Coleman was the best player on the field for long stretches during Mizzou’s visit to Auburn, finishing with six receptions for 108 yards. In truth, the stat line could have been much bigger. Late in the game, Coleman got behind the defense for what appeared to be a sure touchdown that likely would have swung the outcome in Auburn’s favor. Instead, he dropped a wide-open deep ball, allowing Mizzou to escape without paying the ultimate price.
The challenge becomes even greater in 2026 because Coleman is no longer playing in Auburn’s offense.
When Texas comes to Columbia, Corey Batoon’s defense will have to contend with Coleman operating in one of the nation’s most creative (and talented) passing attacks. Bracketing him is easier said than done because Sarkisian excels at moving his top playmakers around the formation and creating one-on-one opportunities.
The Tigers have done a respectable job containing Coleman at times during his career, but they have also seen how quickly he can take over a game. If Mizzou wants to knock off Texas, slowing Coleman will be near the top of the priority list. Otherwise, the Longhorns’ star transfer could finally deliver the breakout performance against the Tigers that has been threatening to happen for two years.
Will Echoles
School: Ole Miss
Hometown: Houston, Miss.
Position: DT
Class: Junior
Height: 6-3
Weight: 315 lbs.
What He’s Done
Every year, a handful of players make the jump from promising young contributor to bona fide star. Few players in the SEC took a larger leap in 2025 than Ole Miss defensive tackle Will Echoles, who transformed himself from a rotational freshman into one of the conference’s most productive defensive linemen.
Echoles exploded onto the national scene during his sophomore season, finishing with an eye-popping 68 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, five sacks and five pass deflections. Those numbers would be impressive for a linebacker. For a 6-3, 315 lbs. defensive tackle, they were remarkable.
His 68 tackles ranked among the most productive seasons by an SEC interior defensive lineman in recent memory. Beyond the raw statistics, Echoles consistently disrupted opposing offenses by collapsing pockets, defeating double teams and making plays downfield. His breakout campaign earned him third-team All-SEC recognition and quickly elevated him into conversations about the conference’s best defensive tackles.
What makes Echoles particularly dangerous is his combination of size and athleticism. He possesses the power to anchor against the run while also generating pressure as a pass rusher, a skill set that is increasingly valuable in modern college football.
What He’ll Do
Now entering the 2026 season, Echoles looks poised to become one of the faces of Pete Golding’s defense and one of the top defensive tackles in college football. While Ole Miss has undergone significant changes following Lane Kiffin’s departure, the Rebels return one of the SEC’s best defensive building blocks in Echoles. He is expected to anchor Golding’s defensive front and serve as the leader of a unit that hopes to remain among the conference’s elite.
After earning third-team All-SEC honors last season, Echoles enters the year with a legitimate chance to make the first team. His production already rivals many of the league’s top defensive linemen, and another step forward could place him firmly in the All-America conversation.
NFL scouts have taken notice as well. Interior defenders capable of producing tackles, sacks and consistent disruption are difficult to find, and Echoles’ breakout season has already generated early draft buzz.
If he stays healthy, another season approaching double-digit tackles for loss and five-plus sacks feels realistic. There simply are not many defensive tackles in the country capable of matching his production.
Mizzou Matchup
Mizzou travels to Oxford this season for one of its toughest road games of the year, and slowing Echoles will be near the top of Chip Lindsey’s priority list.
The challenge begins inside. Echoles is the type of defensive tackle who can wreck a game without recording a sack. His ability to collapse the pocket creates problems for quarterbacks, while his strength against the run can force offenses into uncomfortable down-and-distance situations.
That could be especially important against the Tigers. With Austin Simmons entering his first season as Mizzou’s starting quarterback, establishing a consistent rushing attack and keeping the interior pocket clean will be critical. Allowing Echoles to create pressure up the middle would make both objectives significantly more difficult.
Expect Mizzou to devote extra attention to him with double teams and quick-hitting run concepts designed to neutralize his penetration. The Tigers may also look to move the pocket and utilize play-action to prevent Ole Miss from allowing Echoles to attack straight ahead on passing downs.
The Rebels have plenty of talented defenders, but Echoles is rapidly becoming the player opposing coaches identify first when building a game plan. If Mizzou hopes to leave Oxford with a signature SEC road victory, it will need to find a way to keep one of the conference’s most disruptive defensive tackles from taking over the game.
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