Two Mizzou defensive players leave team

Two Missouri defensive players have left the team. Cornerback Ernest Payton and defensive tackle Dequinton Osborne left MU for undisclosed personal reasons, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Payton’s departure leaves five scholarship players who worked at corner this spring. While competing for a starting job, he suffered a season-ending knee injury last August, gradually worked his way into the spring rotation and was expected to be healthy to start fall camp.

Osborne’s absence leaves the Tigers’ tackle cupboard still stacked with players, and the 310-pounder redshirted the 2013 season. He worked into the tackle rotation this spring, but he was rather buried on the depth chart.

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