Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Mizzou fans and fans across the country.
Mizzou Football’s defense has been successful ever since Eli Drinkwitz hired Corey Batoon as coordinator. In back-to-back seasons, the Tigers ranked 17th (2024) and 8th (2025) in the country in total defense.
Missouri is set to have a new-look defense heading into this season after losing a lot of key pieces in the offseason — but the Drinkwitz
and the staff were plenty active in the transfer portal especially at the secondary unit.
The portal additions at secondary are players from big-time programs that were previously highly rated out of high school. That includes Notre Dame safety JaDon Blair, Michigan cornerback Elijah Dotson, and Oregon cornerback Jahlil Florence.
At the linebacker position, we should expect Auburn transfer Robert Woodyard Jr. to play a big role alongside Nicholas Rodriguez Jr.
All four of these transfers mentioned are former four-star recruits and were ranked in the Top 150 nationally in their respective classes. Sometimes, a change of scenery is what transfers simply need.
Can these new faces on the defensive side of the ball thrive at Mizzou under Corey Batoon? In our latest SBN reacts survey, we ask you this: Which defensive transfer will make the biggest impact for Mizzou Football this season?
(If one of the names isn’t on the poll, let us know in the comments below!)
