The Mizzou football defense could look a good deal different next season.
Missouri football has signed 15 players out of the transfer portal so far. There is still time for the Tigers to make an addition or two before spring camp begins, but the players listed here are likely to be who shows up for the offseason practices.
Of the 15 new additions, eight are defenders. That means the core rotation is going to have some new personnel in Year 2 of Corey Batoon’s stint as the Tigers‘ defensive coordinator.
Here’s a way-too-early prediction at how Mizzou’s defensive depth chart may shape up in 2025, with all the updated ins and outs to MU’s roster accounted for. All new transfers have been marked with an asterisk (*).
The starters: Chris McClellan, sr.; Sterling Webb, sr.
Main rotation: Marquis Gracial, r-jr.; Sam Williams, r-so.; Jalen Marshall, r-jr.
The reserves: Elias Williams, r-fr.; Justin Bodford, r-fr.; Jason Dowell, fr.
Mizzou has typically run with a four- or five-player rotation at defensive tackle, and it should have those numbers in-house to roll into the new season. The Tigers are yet to add an interior defensive lineman out of the portal, and will lose Kristian Williams to eligibility.
This might be somewhere Missouri targets before its winter business is concluded, or it may assess the options in spring camp and make a move in the 10-day April portal window to bolster its depth.
The starters: Zion Young, sr.; Darris Smith, jr.
Main rotation: *Nate Johnson, jr.; Jakhai Lang, r-so.; Eddie Kelly Jr., sr.; Javion Hilson, fr.
The reserves: *Langden Kitchen, jr.; Daeden Hopkins, fr.
Smith isn’t a new transfer, but when he returns for the injury that kept him out of the 2024 campaign, he may feel like one for Missouri, which loses team captain Johnny Walker Jr. and key rotational player Joe Moore III. Between him and Young, who played well at the field end spot last season, the Tigers should be set for starters.
Johnson had 10 sacks over two seasons at Appalachian State and should immediately fit in the 2025 rotation. Hilson, a top-50 high school prospect who is expected to enroll early with MU, should also have a path to playing time.
More:These 10 incoming Missouri football freshman will enroll early, participate in spring camp
The starters: M: Josiah Trotter, r-so.; W: Triston Newson, sr.
Main rotation: *Mikai Gbayor, sr.; Khalil Jacobs, sr.
The reserves: Jeremiah Beasley, so.; Nicholas Rodriguez, so.; Brian Huff, r-fr.; Dante McClellan, fr.; Jason King, fr.
Missouri is still waiting for the decision of Triston Newson, who could benefit from the “Diego Pavia rule” that allows an extra year of eligibility to former JUCO players, stemming from a recent waiver granted by the NCAA following a lawsuit from the Vanderbilt quarterback.
Assuming Newson does return, he should slot back into the starting spot at weakside linebacker. The Tigers have added two transfers to replace outgoing production, with Trotter and Gbayor joining from West Virginia and Nebraska, respectively. Both newcomers should be in the competition for roles in the main rotation.
Jacobs also is expected to return from a midseason injury that ruled him out of all of the second half of MU’s 2024 season.
The starters: Dreyden Norwood, sr.; *Stephen Hall, sr.
The reserves: Toriano Pride, sr.; Nicholas DeLoach, r-so.; Shamar McNeil, r-so.; Ja’Mariyon Wayne, r-jr.; Cameron Keys, r-fr.; Mark Manfred III, fr.
This could be one of the more active competitions in camp. Missouri had inconsistent corner play last season, and has added Hall, a Washington State transfer.
Norwood seems likely to retain a starting role, but the other spot is worth monitoring. With another year of development, Pride and DeLoach could very well earn a starting role over the new transfer.
For now, we think Hall will start for the Tigers. It wouldn’t be a surprise if MU attempts to make another addition here before the new season.
The starters: Free: *Jalen Catalon, gr.; Strong: Marvin Burks Jr., jr.; Star: Daylan Carnell, sr.
Main rotation: *Santana Banner, r-so.; *Mose Phillips III, jr.; Caleb Flagg, sr.; Trajen Greco, so.
The reserves: Jackson Hancock, r-fr.; Charles Bass III, fr.
More:A way-too-early, post-portal prediction at Missouri football’s offensive depth chart in 2025
Mizzou has hit the safety spot in the portal, adding three players in the past month. That evens out the roster after three total starters and key rotation players ran out of eligibility after the Music City Bowl.
Catalon is among the more exciting transfers Mizzou has landed to date. The seventh-year senior was a third-team All-American with UNLV last season, as he picked off five passes. He’ll be expected to play a major role in the secondary.
Carnell recently announced he is returning for his final year of eligibility, and he is a lock to start at the ‘star’ hybrid linebacker-safety spot. There could be some competition for Burks, who looked lost in coverage at times in 2024, from Banner and Phillips, who are Northern Illinois and Virginia Tech transfers, respectively.
