In recent years Missouri has become known for producing standout defensive linemen who have helped establish the Tigers as one of the best programs in the SEC East. But this season the Mizzou defense has so far been paced by an exceptional pair of linebackers who have helped the Tigers to a 2-0 start heading into Saturday’s game against Connecticut.

In fact, Missouri’s two returning starters at linebacker, Kentrell Brothers and Michael Scherer, are among the best pair in the SEC. There’s no denying that the senior Brothers is one of the best overall players in the conference. In just two games, Brothers has 32 tackles. It would be nearly impossible to keep up the pace, but to put it in perspective, he’s on pace to have more than 200 tackles if he plays in 13 games this year. On top of that he has a pair of interceptions.

Scherer’s numbers don’t jump off the stat sheet as much at this point, he has 13 tackles in two games, but the junior came up huge when the Tigers were challenged on the road at Arkansas State last weekend. Missouri managed to escape with a 27-20 victory after both Brothers and Scherer made big play after big play and recorded double-digit tackles, Brothers with 16 and Scherer with 10.

After the offseason injury to star defensive lineman Harold Brantley, and the dismissal of projected starting defensive end Marcus Loud, Missouri’s reliance on the linebacker corps became even greater. So far they’ve risen to the challenge.

But are Brothers and Scherer the best pair in the league? Maybe so.

If awards were handed out this week, there’s a good chance Brothers would be joined on the All-SEC team at linebacker by Tennessee’s Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Alabama’s Reggie Ragland. But while Reeves-Maybin and Ragland have been outstanding, neither has a sidekick to the level of Scherer.

Mississippi State’s Richie Brown has also been outstanding with 22 tackles and an interception so far, but also lacks a teammate at linebacker like Scherer — all due respect to Beniquez Brown.

Mizzou’s greatest competition in the category of best linebacker duo so far probably comes from Auburn and Kentucky.

Auburn’s Kris Frost and Cassanova McKinzy have each been outstanding. Frost and McKinzy have 35 total tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.

Kentucky’s Josh Forrest and Khalid Henderson are also both among the conference leaders in tackles. Forrest has 22 and Henderson 18 for the 2-0 Wildcats. They also each have a sack with Forrest also contributing an interception.

Though the Auburn and Kentucky pairs have strong combined numbers overall, you have to consider that Missouri’s Brothers and Scherer both barely played in the second half of the season opening victory against Southeast Missouri State. Had Mizzou coach Gary Pinkel been interested in running up the score, Scherer likely could have gotten close to double digit tackles in that game while Brothers was nearly on pace for an astounding 30 tackles.

There might not be enough data available to conclusively hand the title of best linebacker pair over to Missouri, but it’s a pretty safe bet the Tigers coaching staff isn’t interested in trading Brothers and Scherer for any of their SEC counterparts.