Ennis Rakestraw, Ty'Ron Hopper reportedly learn status update for Cotton Bowl vs. Ohio State

Ennis Rakestraw and Ty’Ron Hopper are not going to be joining their Missouri teammates at the Cotton Bowl, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

A source told Thamel that the Missouri defenders are going to miss the game due to injuries they suffered late in the season. Losing both of them is going to hurt.

Hopper accounted for 55 total tackles, 6 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks. Rakestraw accounted for 35 total tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.

Source: Two Missouri star defenders — CB Ennis Rakestraw and LB Ty’Ron Hopper — will not play in the Cotton Bowl against Ohio State because of the injuries that slowed them late in the season.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 23, 2023

Both players have been mainstays on defense the last 2 seasons. Hopper and Rakestraw played in all 13 games last year, but missed the last few regular season games with injuries this season.

Nonetheless, Missouri will have to suit up against Ohio State without them. This meeting will be the 1st time this century that the 2 programs have met in football. The last game took place in 1998.

Something to watch will be who the Tigers use in place of Rakestraw and Hopper. The Cotton Bowl is set for 8 p.m. ET on ESPN on Dec. 29.