Tigers navigate portal departures, re-sign key starters, and line up crucial visits to reshape the roster for 2026.
The college football transfer portal officially opened Jan. 2, and the Missouri Tigers were as busy as anyone. Here's everything the team did to kick off the chaotic festivities.
Outgoing Transfers
Two Tigers announced they would be leaving the team and entering the portal in search of a new home.
Starting strong safety Marvin Burks Jr. entered the portal and became Missouri's first defensive starter to do so. He led Missouri's defense with 602 snaps, and has been a two-year starter at the position. Santana Banner is now the lone returning starter from the Tigers' secondary.
Junior wideout Daniel Blood also entered the transfer portal, becoming the fourth Tiger receiver this offseason to do so. The Louisiana native has 15 catches for 152 yards over his three-season career with the Tigers, playing primarily as the backup slot behind Luther Burden III and Kevin Coleman Jr. His departure cuts Missouri's receiver room to just five members, only one of which caught more than one pass last season.
Official Re-Signees
Minutes after Burks entered the transfer portal, Missouri posted that junior safety Trajen Greco had officially re-signed for the 2026 season. He'll likely see an elevated role in 2026, given Burks, Catalon and Carnell's departures.
Starting tight end Brett Norfleet also signed back for 2026 — an incredibly important retention given Missouri's depleted pass-catcher core. He's started each of the previous three seasons, and posted career-highs all around the board in 2025.
Junior edge rusher Darris Smith signed to return next season. Smith was Missouri's backup edge rusher, filling in for Zion Young and Damon Wilson II when needed, posting four sacks and 10 tackles in the role. He'll likely start in 2026.
Starting kicker Blake Craig will be back in 2026 as well. After high hopes for his 2025 redshirt sophomore campaign, Craig suffered a torn ACL in the first game of the season, missing the next 12 games for the Tigers. He'll be back and competing for a starting job in 2026.
Visits
Missouri already has a slew of visits scheduled for the next few weeks. Here's all of the ones reported on Jan. 2.
Robert Woodyard, linebacker, Auburn
Xai'Shaun Edwards, running back, Houston Christian (Jan. 5)
Daleseasn Staley, defensive back, San Diego State (Jan. 6-7)
Austin Simmons, quarterback, Ole Miss
Amari Odom, quarterback, Kennesaw State (Jan. 7)
Emmanuel Oyebadejo, defensive line, Jacksonville State
Mason Purham, edge, Emory and Henry
Wyatt Young, wide receiver, North Texas
Offers With No Reported Visit
Chase Hendricks, wide receiver, Ohio
Derek Joiner, offensive line, Houston
Former Tigers
Beau Pribula, quarterback, visits scheduled to Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech
Marquis Johnson, wide receiver, visits scheduled to Kentucky, Mississippi State
Other News
Star Missouri right tackle Keagen Trost received an invite to the East-West Shrine Bowl.
Starting Missouri cornerback Toriano Pride Jr. officially entered his name in the 2026 NFL Draft.
