Mizzou lands transfer commitment from former Auburn DB Kensley Louidor-Faustin. He brings proven talent and competition to Missouri's secondary.
Missouri football boosted its defense with the seventh addition of its 2026 transfer portal class, earning the commitment of former Auburn defensive back Kensley Louidor-Faustin Wednesday afternoon.
Missouri was the first team to offer the three-star Florida native in his 2022 recruitment cycle, but Louidor-Faustin opted to go to a rival Tiger school before eventually landing at Missouri. He's the second former Auburn player to join Missouri in the 2026 portal cycle, joining PFF All-SEC linebacker Robert Woodyard Jr.
The sophomore logged career-highs around the board last season, logging 20 tackles, one interception, three pass-breakups, one sack and three tackles-for-loss. Louidor-Faustin allowed 15 catches for 137 yards — 67 of which were after the catch — two touchdowns. 11 of those receptions and 82 of those yards were in the first five weeks — he had a much better second half of the season, including his performance against Missouri where he allowed zero catches on two targets in 22 coverage snaps.
The 5-foot-11, 183-pound defensive back played 188 of his 257 defensive snaps at the slot corner position, a role now vacant at Missouri in wake of Daylen Carnell's departure. Louidor-Faustin will compete with Mose Phillips III and CJ Bass III for snaps in the position, but he can be utilized as a free safety or box defender as well.
Louidor-Faustin joins a Missouri safety / slot cornerback room holding plenty of young talent along with a fellow transfer. Here's how the room is shaking out for the 2026 season.
Mose Phillips III (Eligibility expires 2026)
Santana Banner (2027)
Kensley Louidor-Faustin (2027)
Trajen Greco (2027)
Jackson Hancock (2028)
JaDon Blair (2029)
CJ Bass III (2029)
Jayden McGregory (2030)
Carter Stewart (2030)
Brody Jones (2030)
Banner is the only returning member of Missouri's secondary to play 250 or more snaps for the Tigers in 2025, while fellow heavy-usage safeties Daylan Carnell, Marvin Burks Jr. and Jalen Catalon left the program — Burks to the portal and the senior duo exhausting their eligibility. This leaves three high-usage roles to be filled, which Louidor-Faustin can certainly compete for.
Here's how Missouri's starting defense is shaking out for the 2026 season, as of Jan. 7.
*Bold indicates playing 250 or more snaps for Missouri in 2025*
EDGE: Darris Smith
DT: Marquis Gracial
DT: Jalen Marshall
EDGE: Demarcus Johnson (Hutchinson CC transfer)
LB: Robert Woodyard (Auburn transfer)
LB: Nicholas Rodriguez
CB: Jahlil Florence (Oregon transfer)
CB: Cam Keys / Nick DeLoach Jr.
NB: Mose Phillips III / Kensley Louidor-Faustin / CJ Bass III
FS: Santana Banner
SS: Trajen Greco
This likely rounds out Missouri's 2026 safeties group, bringing the total 10. Follow along with our offseason tracker here to keep up with all other moves the Tigers make this offseason.
