Columbia, Mo. ? In what has been an otherwise dismal year for the Missouri defense, James Kinney has been a bright spot.

Kinney, the team’s only sophomore co-captain, leads the Tigers with 126 tackles. He has six sacks and nine tackles for losses, and has scored two defensive touchdowns ” a fumble return in the season-opening win against Illinois, and an interception return against Troy State.

“He’s a physical linebacker, and I’m impressed by how he’s played,” said Sean Doyle, a fellow linebacker.

Kinney’s emergence began late last season when he was a red-shirt freshman. He started the final two games ahead of Jamonte Robinson, a senior captain. This season, Kinney usually gets the nod ahead of Doyle, a senior captain, when Missouri goes to a one-linebacker set.

Kinney said he was surprised when his teammates chose him as one of four co-captains in August. The honor has inspired him.

“I’ve got to lead my team,” he said. “I have to do right vocally and lead by example. I can’t take a play or a day off.”

MU defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus said the passion people see in the games is the same Kinney displays in practice.

“He has an intensity level that he can go to that most people can’t, and we expect more out of him,” Eberflus said.

That level of intensity makes Kinney a great leader, teammates say. Doyle said Kinney leads by example and is also one of the Tigers’ more vocal players, even when the defense is struggling.

Those struggles have been plentiful. Missouri (4-6 overall, 1-5 Big 12) has lost five of its last six games, surrendering an average of 38 points per game in the losses.

“If there’s something to be said, he’ll say it,” Doyle said.

Missouri faces Texas A&M (6-4, 3-3) today at College Station, Texas. The Aggies average 29.8 points a game and are coming off a victory against Oklahoma.