COLUMBIA, Mo. — Here comes the transfer portal.
College football’s semiannual period of free agency reopens Monday, and it’ll be a key window for Missouri. The Tigers still have a bowl game to tack on top of their 9-3 regular-season record, but those preparations overlap with player acquisition for the 2025 season and beyond.
This offseason, Mizzou will have to replace key contributors on both sides of the ball, ranging from wideout Luther Burden III to quarterback Brady Cook to defensive end Johnny Walker Jr. Some position groups will turn to up-and-coming players, but the portal will be vital for bolstering others.
Here’s a position-by-position rundown of Missouri’s transfer portal needs and priorities, based on expectations that senior day participants will depart the program:
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Quarterback
Cook’s departure will open up the starting job for next season. Drew Pyne will return after making one start this season. He was able to beat Oklahoma but struggled mightily during fill-in duty against Alabama. Sam Horn has thrown just eight passes in the past three years. Incoming freshman Matt Zollers is highly rated but is coming off an injury and likely too young for a team trying to contend to rely on.
Priority: High
Running back
A year ago, the Tigers turned to the portal for two tailbacks to replace Cody Schrader. Now, they have to replace veterans Nate Noel and Marcus Carroll. There’s promise in the running backs already on the roster, though: Jamal Roberts will be entering his third season after finding a role this year. Kewan Lacy’s freshman year created intrigue. Two incoming freshmen could push for touches. Going with younger backs could allow for more continuity down the road.
Priority: Low
Wide receiver
MU’s three starting wideouts — Burden, Theo Wease Jr. and Mookie Cooper — will be done. The depth of the wide receiver room, though, has been praised for a while. Will the coaching staff comfortably turn to a younger generation of Joshua Manning, Marquis Johnson, Daniel Blood, Courtney Crutchfield and others? They’ll have to be ready at some point, but the right veteran playmaker could elevate the offense.
Priority: Medium
Tight end
Mizzou will return its top two tight ends in Brett Norfleet and Jordon Harris, plus have room to incorporate younger options like Jude James and Whit Hafer. Injuries have popped up with some frequency for Norfleet, so depth here could be helpful, but that could already be on the roster.
Priority: Low
Offensive line
Whether it’s left guard Cayden Green bumping outside or a new face, Mizzou will need a new left tackle with Marcus Bryant departing. Right guard Cam’Ron Johnson is also done. Needing two or three immediate starters will likely send the Tigers to the transfer portal, even if a reserve lineman like Logan Reichert is ready for action. Why invest in a quarterback but not invest to protect him?
Priority: High
Defensive end
Walker’s college career is over, but there are talented players who still have eligibility remaining. Zion Young is poised to return and build on a strong season. Darris Smith missed the entire 2024 season with a knee injury but could be back, depending on recovery timeline. Jahkai Lang became a contributor. Five-star freshman Williams Nwaneri didn’t get much of a role in Year 1 but should be able to earn more action.
Priority: Low
Defensive tackle
This position group is in a similar spot to the edge rushers: It’s losing a veteran in Kristian Williams, but plenty of contributors are back. Mizzou didn’t quite make the splash at D-tackle that it could have during last season’s portal cycles, though, so there could be room for an addition to go with Chris McClellan, Sterling Webb and Marquis Gracial for the 2025 rotation.
Priority: Medium
Linebacker
Missouri closed the season with a three-man rotation across both linebacker spots, and all three — Triston Newson, Chuck Hicks and Corey Flagg Jr. — are out of eligibility. Khalil Jacobs can return from a season-ending injury and Nicholas Rodriguez got on the field as a freshman, but a Southeastern Conference-caliber linebacker corps needs hard-hitting experience.
Priority: High
Cornerback
Needing to replace two corners lost to the NFL a year ago, Dreyden Norwood held down one spot while Toriano Pride Jr. and Nicholas Deloach Jr. oscillated at the other cornerback spot. MU never seemed particularly confident with either Pride or Deloach, though both are young enough to improve. If the right option popped up in the portal, bringing in another cornerback to compete with the three returners could be a path forward.
Priority: Medium
Safety
Three safeties who saw regular reps — Joseph Charleston, Tre’Vez Johnson and Sidney Williams — are gone, with Marvin Burks Jr. and Daylan Carnell as the leaders expected to return. Depth, if nothing else, will be needed for a position group that was prone to missed tackles and coverage busts. A confident starter would also help.
Priority: High
Specialists
Kicker Blake Craig showed that he has range in his first year as a starter, but going 1 for 7 on kicks between 40-49 yards was a red flag. Mizzou needs consistency and has already offered a transfer portal kicker who could compete with Craig for the job next year. With starter Luke Bauer done and backup Orion Phillips in the transfer portal, MU will need a punter or two — and has already been offering punters in the portal.
Priority: High
