No position group on Mizzou’s roster experienced more upheaval this offseason than wide receiver. Starters graduated, bound for the NFL, veterans transferred with eligibility remaining and a room that was already inconsistent in 2025 is now almost entirely rebuilt.
The Tigers coaching staff responded to the turnover with a mix of proven portal additions and developmental talent, but the ultimate question remains whether this new collection of receivers can help lift a passing game that struggled to find
rhythm last fall. Let’s take a look at who will be competing for playing time this spring.
The Departures
- Kevin Coleman, Starting Receiver
- Marquis Johnson, Starting Receiver
- Josh Manning, Starting Receiver
- Daniel Blood, Back up Receiver
- Xavier Loyd, Back up Receiver
- Logan Muckey, Reserve Receiver
- James Madison II, Reserve Receiver
The biggest loss from the room by far is Kevin Coleman, who exhausted his eligibility and moved on to the NFL after serving as the focal point of the offense, or at least what served as one in the meager 2025 passing offense. Beyond Coleman, the departures of Marquis Johnson and Josh Manning were more surprising. Both had a year of eligibility remaining and opted to make lateral moves to other Power Four programs (Mississippi State for Johnson and Kansas State for Manning). These decisions further drained experience from an already underproducing room.
Johnson and Manning combined to form half of Mizzou’s top four receivers in 2025, and their exits leave the Tigers losing three of their top four targets. Blood, Loyd, Muckey and Madison II were depth pieces who never fully established themselves in the rotation, but their departures still contribute to a roster that suddenly lacks veteran continuity. The result is a wide receiver group that enters spring practice with more questions than answers and very few players who have logged significant collegiate snaps.
The Returners
- Donovan Olugbode (Sophomore) *Starting Receiver
- DaMarion Fowlkes (Sophomore)
- Shaun Terry II (RS-Freshman)
Donovan Olugbode emerged in 2025 as one of the brightest spots in the offense, flashing big-play ability and looking every bit like a future No. 1 option on the outside. He should enter spring as a near lock to start and will be counted on to carry a heavier target load.
Shaun Terry II is one of the more interesting young pieces on the roster. The redshirt freshman profiles as a shifty slot receiver and potential punt returner, and his skill set could carve out a role if he develops quickly. Fowlkes contributed primarily as a kickoff returner last season and remains an unknown as a receiver, but he will be in the mix for snaps as the Tigers search for reliable options.
Even with Olugbode’s emergence, the returning group represents a thin core, with limited proven production beyond one player.
The Newcomers
- Cayden Lee (Senior transfer from Ole Miss)
- Caleb Goodie (Senior transfer from Cincinnati)
- Kenric Lanier II (RS-Junior transfer from Minnesota)
- Naeshaun Montgomery (RS-Freshman transfer from Florida)
- Jabari Brady (Freshman)
Cayden Lee is the headliner, transferring from Ole Miss and reuniting with his close friend and quarterback Austin Simmons. He arrives with a track record of production, putting up 1,623 yards and seven touchdowns in three seasons at Ole Miss. He is expected to step into a major role immediately. Caleb Goodie comes from Cincinnati and Colorado State, where he built a reputation as a deep-ball threat in the Big 12 and brings an element of vertical explosiveness the Tigers sorely lacked at times in 2025. Goodie’s 919 career yards and six touchdowns combine with Lee as a solid productive receiving transfer corps.
Kenric Lanier II is a bit more of a wildcard, arriving from Minnesota and offers another athletic body with experience, if limited, in a Power Four program, while Naeshaun Montgomery comes from Florida with four years of eligibility remaining and a high ceiling as a developmental piece. The Tigers also signed multiple high school receivers, but only Brady is on campus this spring with a chance to compete early, making him an intriguing wild card in a wide-open room.
Spring Speculation
The shape of the wide receiver depth chart will be one of the defining storylines of spring practice. Olugbode should lock down one starting spot on the outside, while Lee is expected to claim the other side quickly given his experience and production.
The most competitive battle will come in the slot, where Coleman’s departure leaves a massive void. Terry, Goodie and Montgomery all have a legitimate path to that role, and their differing skill sets could lead to a true competition throughout the spring and into fall camp. Fowlkes and Lanier will also push for playing time and could carve out rotational roles if they show consistency.
The 2026 Mizzou football team has no shortage of question marks, but no position group better embodies the uncertainty than wide receiver. The talent is there on paper, and the portal class gives the Tigers a chance to reset the room. Whether that reset translates into a significantly improved passing game will be one of the most important developments to track in Columbia this spring.
