Congratulations! You’ve made it through 6.7 percent of the transfer portal season. Do you feel like throwing yourself through a wall yet? Or is that just me?
The truth is, all the rumors and intrigue around the sport right now? Probably a net positive! Message boards are popping, program interest is high for non-CFP teams, etc. Personally? I feel like I’m going a little crazy. But I have to actually keep some track of this stuff.
The first day of portal season has come and gone, and Mizzou was active
as ever. To help you catch up, here are three things we learned from the portal’s first day being open.
1. The staff has an open mind at QB
There were several bits of news that popped on Friday, and that’s if you are already taking for granted that Matt Zollers officially “re-signed” for 2026 according to Mizzou Football’s official accounts.
The most concrete bit of reporting came from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, who reported that Ole Miss backup QB Austin Simmons plans on transferring after the Rebels’ CFP run is over… and he’s expected to transfer to Mizzou.
Nothing is official until deals are signed, but all signs point to Simmons joining up with the Tigers in Columbia. And Mizzou fans would be right to get excited. Simmons feels like a Beau Pribula type of transfer, having spent the only two seasons of his career as a back up. But folks may forget that Simmons actually beat out Trinidad Chambliss out of fall camp this year, and only lost his job after an ankle injury allowed Chambliss to claim the spot and never look back. That Simmons, who was rumored to also be an option for Lane Kiffin at LSU, would head to Missouri demonstrates that the Tigers have a surprising level of pull.
But that’s not the only QB news we got on Friday. There were also reports connecting Mizzou to a slew of transfer quarterbacks, from First Team All-Conference USA Amari Odom (who will visit Columbia next week), to Florida transfer DJ Lagway, to Ohio State’s Lincoln Kieholz. We don’t know exactly what the staff is planning, but it feels like the goal right now is to bring in high-end talent and set up another QB battle in the spring and summer. Having Zollers and Simmons in the fold would be a nice start, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Drinkwitz and new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey bring another QB in to join the fray.
2. Things are moving quick
As if you didn’t already know that based on point number one! It’s not surprising that a two-week window will feature a lot of moving pieces, especially for a team like Missouri that is now north of 20 portal departures. This year’s transfer class will be large, and the staff isn’t waiting around to bring in new guys.
So far, at least three players have reported scheduled visits to Mizzou, all on the defensive end. They include Jacksonville State DL Emmanuel Oyebadejo, Emory & Henry EDGE Mason Purham, and San Diego State’ DB Dalesean Staley. There’s big competition for all of these guys, and Mizzou won’t be able to reel in everyone. But the staff is casting a wide net and moving quickly to make sure the guys they like know they’re a priority. It seems like Eli Drinkwitz came prepared for this new evolution of the portal.
3. Local names emerging
If there’s one thing we know about Eli Drinkwitz and portal season, it’s that he loves to bring a local kid home. And there are plenty of local kids looking for new homes this time around.
Staley, mentioned above, is a Kansas City native, and Mizzou looks to be in good shape for his services. Fellow KC native Andrew Sprague, who just capped an honorable mention All Big 10 season, has also entered the portal with a “do not contact” tag, which usually means players already know where they’re headed.
Among the others with local ties to the program who could be options for positions in need on the depth chart: Oregon RB Jay Harris (Timberland High School); Oklahoma State CB Jacobi Oliphant (SLUH); Houston OL Derek Joiner (Grandview); Kent State RB TaRyan Martin (East St. Louis); Florida State WR Jayvan Boggs (former Mizzou commit); Central Michigan DL Keshawn Hayden (East St. Louis); Washington State DL Donovan Fitzmaurice (Marquette High); and honestly, that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
It’s hard to overemphasize just how many players enter the portal in every cycle, so there will be plenty of guys to sift through. But Drinkwitz has proven particularly adept at singling out guys with connections to the program who want to make their way back in some way, shape, or form. There are no shortage of those players this time around, and it might work to the staff’s benefit as they look to shore up multiple positions on the field.
