For the second year in a row, Mizzou DL Terry Beckner Jr. is spending his offseason rehabbing a major knee injury. Coach Barry Odom had a positive update on Beckner’s progress Wednesday.

“He’s so far ahead of where he was last year, which is a good thing as far as his rehab,” Odom said, per the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Dave Matter. “I also know what he could do. I’d rather have him in September than March.”

While Odom will be cautious with Beckner, there’s a possibility that Beckner could take part in some spring practice after spring break if he is cleared. The ACL tear in his left knee is not as complex as last year’s injury, a torn ACL and MCL in his right knee.

Though Beckner was out of commission after seven games this season, Odom was impressed by his leadership skills.

“About midway through the season, he became more of a vocal guy than I’d ever seen before,” Odom said. “He realized he couldn’t’ do anything physically to help the team, so he saw that as a way to help. It was awesome. He did a great job. The message he was always giving was very positive and a little bit in your face. He’s our best leader — hurt or not hurt. And he was last year.”

Entering his junior season, Beckner will have 16 games under his belt, having recorded 51 total tackles, including 10 tackles for loss and 3 sacks.