Former Miami linebacker Bobby Washington commits to Missouri. Washington was a four-star recruit in 2023 and has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Columbia, Mo. — Missouri has signed former Miami linebacker Bobby Washington, per Matt Zenitz.
The news broke during the second half of Missouri basketball's game against Oklahoma.
Washington was a former four-star recruit in the class of 2023, ranked as the No. 43 linebacker in the class and No. 86 player in the state of Florida. He seems to have two seasons of eligibility remaining.
Washington played in 14 games across two seasons for the Hurricanes, logging seven tackles and 0.5 sacks in the stint.
He is the second third former Miami defensive player to transfer to Missouri in the 2026 offseason, following defensive tackle Donta Simpson and, most recently, edge rusher Malik Bryant, who committed to the Tigers Friday morning.
Like Bryant, Washington played for now-Missouri linebacker coach Derek Nicholson during Nicholson's coaching tenure with the Hurricanes in 2023 and 2024, the latter season of which Nicholson was a co-defensive coordinator for.
Washington joins a loaded Missouri linebacker room that despite losing talent like Josiah Trotter, Khalil Jacobs and Triston Newson, returns plenty of talent and has added more in the transfer portal.
Here's how the Tigers' linebacker room sits for the 2026 season.
Nicholas Rodriguez, LB, sophomore
Robert Woodyard Jr., LB, senior (Auburn transfer)
Bobby Washington, LB, redshirt sophomore (Miami transfer)
Jeremiah Beasley, LB, sophomore
Brian Huff, LB, redshirt freshman
Dante McClellan, LB, freshman
Jason King, LB, freshman
JJ Bush, LB, incoming freshman
Keenan Harris, LB, incoming freshman
Washington has the credentials to compete for a major role in the rotation. While Rodriguez and Woodyard stand out as favorites for the starting jobs, four Missouri linebackers played 200 or more snaps in 2025, which could likely be the case again in 2024, as both defensive coordinator Corey Batoon and Nicholson return to the staff.
Here's how Missouri's starting defense could look in 2026:
EDGE: Darris Smith
DT: Marquis Gracial
DT: Jalen Marshall
EDGE: Demarcus Johnson (Hutchinson CC transfer) / CJ May / Malik Bryant
LB: Robert Woodyard (Auburn transfer)
LB: Nicholas Rodriguez
CB: Jahlil Florence (Oregon transfer) / Elijah Dotson (Michigan transfer)
CB: Chris GravesNB: CJ Bass III / Kensley Louidor-Faustin (Auburn transfer)
FS: Santana Banner
SS: Trajen Greco
To keep up with all of Missouri's incoming and outgoing transfers, coaching staff changes and high school commitments, follow along with our 2026 offseason tracker here:
