Columbia, Mo. ? With apologies to broadcasters Mike Kelly and John Kadlec, the voice of Mizzou football 2009 belongs to the exuberant new face of the program.

Senior linebacker Sean Weatherspoon, featured on Missouri’s marketing posters, was All-Big 12 last season and is a sterling candidate for the Butkus Award this season. Statistically, he could become Mizzou’s career leading tackler this year. Less scientifically, he will leave the program as arguably its most charming personality and ambassador ever.

Kadlec has been around the program in various forms most of the span since World War II and can’t think of anyone who has been more engaging than Weatherspoon.

“He’s the kind of person you want your daughter to marry: He’s smart. He’s articulate. He’s fun-loving. He’s enthusiastic,” defensive coordinator Dave Steckel said, almost as an afterthought adding, “And he’s a good football player.”

And he will graduate this fall after only 31/2 years at Missouri with a degree in interdisciplinary studies … and a perhaps redundant focus on communications.

By all indications, Weatherspoon has been either talking, chirping, nattering, singing, hollering, screeching or otherwise communicating continuously for the 20-plus years since he learned how. All those “excessive talking” marks on his report cards were well-earned.

No, he wasn’t born with a trombone in his throat, as defensive end Jacquies Smith suggested Weatherspoon possesses. But …

“I guess I never quit,” he said, laughing. “I don’t think anybody out there can get louder than me.”

Not even at 6 a.m. when the team rose for camp practices.

As he walked off the practice field one morning, Weatherspoon was singing Hoobastank’s, “I’m Not A Perfect Person.”

But you wouldn’t know that to talk to anyone who has been in his aura, particularly on the field.

“He’s 6-1, 250, he runs 4.5 (in the 40-yard dash),” said MU coach Gary Pinkel, quickly gaining momentum. “He can jump, he’s quick, he can accelerate, he’s a great person, he’s a good student, he’s a great team player, he’s got a great attitude, he’s the whole package. He’s the whole deal.”