Missouri could lose one of its longest-tenured assistants and endure harm in its effort to land one of its highest-rated recruits in years.

Craig Kulogowski, the engineer behind Missouri’s outstanding defensive line, is on the verge of accepting a co-defensive coordinator position at Illinois, according to multiple reports.

Kulogowski, passed over for the defensive coordinator job last month in favor of Memphis’ Barry Odom when Dave Steckel left to accept a head coaching job, has been a part of coach Gary Pinkel’s staff for the last 23 years. He’s also responsible for helping develop six NFL draft picks at the position in the last six years.

One of the most decorated defensive line coaches in the nation, FootballScoop awarded him its Defensive Line Coach of the Year award after the 2014 season.

He’s also instrumental in the recruitment of five-star DL Terry Beckner Jr., which would be the Tigers’ highest-rated commitment since Dorial Green-Beckham. Beckner Jr., the composite national No. 13 according to 247Sports, is scheduled to make his official visit to Columbia, Mo., starting Friday. He visited Ohio State last weekend and also has taken official visits to Florida State and Auburn.

What happens if Kulogowski is no longer part of the Mizzou staff?

Asked Jan. 7 at Shane Ray’s early-entry announcement whether he held resentments due to getting passed over for the defensive coordinator position after so many years, Kulogowski declined comment.

According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, more than 40 coaches nominated him for the Defensive Line Coach of the Year award after Ray, Markus Golden, Harold Brantley and others combined for what was probably the best defensive line in the SEC last season.

The self-proclaimed #DLINEZOU produced the last two SEC Defensive Players of the Year in Ray and Michael Sam. Recent standouts include Aldon Smith, Sheldon Richardson, Ziggy Hood and Kony Ealy. Kulogowski has coached 21 all-conference performers in 14 seasons at Missouri.

“I never hear his name come up like, ‘Hey, we’re looking to hire a new defensive coordinator,’ but I consistently hear him (called) one of the best teachers, the best developers of talent,” FootballScoop.com’s Scott Roussel said, according to the Post-Dispatch. “He’s just really good, very respected in the profession by other coaches. I think he’s what you want: … He’s a blue-collar, bring-your-lunchpail-to-work kind of guy.”

Kuligowski was instrumental in recruiting Missouri’s two current defensive line recruitments in defensive end Marcell Frazier and defensive tackle Tyrell Jacobs. Frazier tweeted the following after a Sunday night report that Illinois had offered Kuligowski the position:

According to the Columbia Tribune, Pinkel lost just four assistant coaches in his first 13 seasons at Mizzou, a remarkable number. But Kuligowski would represent the fourth in the last seven months and the third of this offseason. Steckel left to become head coach at Missouri State and safeties coach Alex Grinch left to become defensive coordinator at Washington State.

A product of Missouri’s success, perhaps?

Kuligowski made $299,500 last season according to data provided by USA Today, as the Columbia Tribune pointed out. Illinois defensive coordinator Tim Banks made $400,600, and since-fired defensive line coach Greg Colby made $180,000.

If Kuligowski indeed accepts the position with the Fighting Illini, it will be interesting to see if he comments on getting passed over for the coordinator job with Missouri.

His decision comes at a critical time just before the Feb. 4 National Signing Day. The team must also replace Ray and Golden in the starting lineup and develop two redshirt sophomore defensive ends in Marcus Loud and Charles Harris.

But the 6-foot-4, 300-pound Beckner is the most immediate domino. Mizzou returns two of its four-man defensive tackle rotation, and Beckner could make an impact as a true freshman.

“I think (Beckner) is the ultimate gap-control guy,” said regional recruiting analyst Danny Heitert, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “He’s real thunder right at the point of attack, but he’s kind of misrepresented. He’s sometimes presented as this upfield, penetrator, this open-field guy. But that’s not the case. He’s really a quick, agile, tough confined-space guy. He’s got outstanding functional strength.”

Heitert told the Post-Dispatch that Mizzou’s sales pitch should be as strong as any team’s.

“The facts are startling. They’re undeniable,” Heitert said. “But one of the proofs in the pudding will be Terry Beckner. He’s a regional guy with a huge upside playing in their ZIP code with NFL aspirations. He’s a perfect match there. Whether it happens I don’t know, but it’s a perfect match.”

The defensive line coach position should be a