With impressive size and run-stopping ability, freshman safety transfer JaDon Blair bolsters Mizzou's secondary. He arrives ready to compete for snaps in a revamped safety room.
Missouri has landed the fifth member of its 2026 transfer portal cycle, bringing in former Notre Dame safety JaDon Blair, per Hayes Fawcett.
Blair was a four-star recruit in the class of 2025, but is now ranked as a three-star transfer. The 6-foot-5, 206-pound freshman brings unique size and length to Missouri's defensive back room. The North Carolina native is a strong run defender capable of making plays in the box and making strong tackles.
Blair played just total 20 snaps in his first season on a stacked Notre Dame squad, but will now be moving to a Missouri safety room that lost top contributors Daylan Carnell, Catalon and Marvin Burks Jr. to the portal.
Blair is *sort of* Missouri's second safety addition of the day — fellow freshman CJ Bass III was reported to have entered the portal days ago, but was most recently reported to have never entered in the first place, and will return to Missouri in 2026.
Blair could certainly play in 2026, but he'll have lots of competition to beat out.
Here's how Missouri's safety room shakes out for the 2026 season:
Mose Phillips III (Eligibility expires 2026)
Santana Banner (2027)
Trajen Greco (2027)
Jackson Hancock (2028)
CJ Bass III (2029)
JaDon Blair (2029)
Jayden McGregory (2030)
Carter Stewart (2030)
Brody Jones (2030)
There's plenty of young talent and depth in Missouri's safety room, which is one of the most complete areas on the roster. One or two more — perhaps veteran — additions will put the Tigers' back end in a good spot, and allow Eli Drinkwitz to shift his attention to other areas on the defense, such as the defensive line or cornerbacks.
Here's how Missouri's starting defense looks:
Projected 2026 Starting Lineup
Bold indicates 250 or more snaps played 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
FS: Santana Banner
SS: Trajen Greco
Blair joins Jahlil Florence, Robert Woodyard, Austin Simmons and Caleb Goodie as the five Missouri transfers to begin the cycle. Read our offseason tracker here to keep up with every move the Tigers make.
