Mizzou wide receiver Donovan Olugbode praised his new teammates and offensive coordinator.
COLUMBIA — Returning wide receiver Donovan Olugbode is emerging as one of Missouri's offensive pillar's for the 2026 season. The star wideout logged 30 receptions, 401 yards and two touchdowns in his 2025 freshman season, catching balls from Beau Pribula and Matt Zollers across 13 games.
He's one of three returning receivers in the Tigers' room for 2026, leading the group in all three major receiving categories. Olugbode also had more catches, yards and touchdowns than all but two of Missouri's transfer wideouts.
Olugbode will be crucial to the success of Missouri's offense in 2026. While he's certainly a pillar, plenty of his transfer teammates have impressed him early and will play big roles.
One of those teammates is former Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons, who threw for 744 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions in 2025. Simmons is the heavy favorite to start under center in 2026.
However, Simmons presents a change to Olugbode as a left-handed quarterback. Olugbode is adjusting quick.
"I like Austin a lot," Olugbode said. "Good quarterback. He knows the game. Could see coverages really good... at first it was weird, because that was my first time catching from a left-handed quarterback, but takes time to use him. I got used to him pretty fast."
One of Simmons' top receivers at Ole Miss, Cayden Lee, followed him to Missouri and will suit up for the Tigers next season. Lee racked up 44 catches for 635 yards and three touchdowns in 2025, and will start in the slot for the Tigers in 2026.
"I got a good relationship with Cayden Lee," Olugbode said. "Good player, great work, work ethic... Short, quick slot guy, in and out. Good at his is breaks. Good at the catch point. Good contested catches."
Caleb Goodie, a transfer from Cincinatti joins Olugbode and Lee in the receiver room. The speedster logged 29 receptions for 484 yards and two touchdowns in 2025 and replaces deep-threat Marquis Johnson in the group. Goodie will help space the field for Olugbode.
"He's really fast," Olugbode said. "He can run, he can catch the ball. He's he's a good player, man. He's got elite speed in the room."
At the helm of the offense, though, is new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, who's now in his first year at Missouri. Lindsey has experience in stops at Michigan, North Carolina, UCF, Auburn, Troy and more. He's developed plenty of NFL talent in his career, and Olugbode is excited to work with him.
"Chip is great," Olugbode said. "He kind of brings a new juice to the offense, a new flow. But overall, is a good coach and a good person. I like him a lot."