Five takeaways from the first week of the Transfer Portal window

Dec 16, 2024 | Uncategorized

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Missouri v Mississippi State
Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images

The transfer portal has been open for a week. What have we learned about Mizzou in that time?

One week ago, the transfer portal window opened for the month of December. So far more than 1,700 players have entered the portal, many having committed their futures to new schools already. Mizzou has been squarely in the mix, so let’s recap some of the big takeaways from the first week of the window as we begin the second.

1. Holding out for a QB

California v SMU
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The staff put a lot of effort into getting USC QB Miller Moss onto campus and giving him a good pitch… only to see him commit to Louisville late last week. It’s not a death blow to the program, by any means, as there are still higher-rated QBs on the market than Moss. But the former Trojan represented a perfect scenario for Mizzou’s succession planning — one year of a high-major experienced QB before handing off the reins to Matt Zollers. Now things get a little dicey. The Tigers are very interested in Fernando Mendoza, the redshirt sophomore coming out of Berkeley. But what would a Mendoza commitment mean for the Tigers’ prized QB commit? Would he be willing to wait two years for a starter’s snaps?

There are plenty of options still available for schools needing a QB. But the Tiger staff will need to align their priorities before landing their guy — or risk upsetting the balance of the position in the future.

2. Retooling the secondary… maybe?

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 23 Missouri at Mississippi State
Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

More than any position we’ve seen the Tiger staff attack in the portal, the secondary has been the one with the most action. Matthew McDoom, Jahlil Hurley, Jaylon Braxton, Santana Banner, Devin Turner — and so far, no dice. McDoom, Hurley and Braxton are all off the board, meaning the Tigers are still in desperate need of some safety help and at least one high quality corner.

This is a position with a lot of turnover amongst high majors, so it’s probably a little too early to fret about the staff’s plans. But it’s yet another position the staff is obviously prioritizing where they haven’t been able to close the deal (literally) with anyone high up on their board.

Editor’s Note: Since this was written, Mizzou received a commitment from Northern Illinois safety Santana Banner.

3. Brian Early: A victim of his own success?

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 09 Oklahoma at Missouri

Mizzou has been relatively lucky to not lose too many players to the portal… that is, unless you look at the EDGE room. Mizzou’s two promising blue-chip pass-rushers, Williams Nwaneri and Jaylen Brown, both hit the portal in the first week. Both have already found landing spots too — Nwaneri committed to Nebraska within minutes of entering the portal, and Brown moved to Columbia lEast to join Shane Beamer’s Gamecocks.

While there will be hand-wringing over these losses, the EDGE room still looks quite strong headed into 2025. Zion Young, Eddie Kelly, Jr., and Jakhai Lang all return after strong seasons, and Darris Smith will be coming back after injury kept him out of the 2024 campaign. The EDGE group was productive in assistant coach Brian Early’s first year on the job… so much so that Nwaneri and Brown likely didn’t get the opportunities they might have been expecting. So while it’s never a good thing to lose young talent, it helps that the guy coaching them is on the right track at developing the guys he does have. Javion Hilson, care to stick around for a while?

4. Return of the YAC

Missisippi State v Ole Miss
Photo by Wes Hale/Getty Images

Mizzou is losing quite a bit of yards-after-catch firepower with Luther Burden III off to the NFL and Theo Wease, Jr. and Mookie Cooper running out of eligibility. But Kevin Coleman should help Missouri retain some of its YAC potential.

Coleman is an explosive dynamo who should give Missouri a bonafide Top 2 level receiver to add to their group. We’ve seen what Joshua Manning brings to the table, we know how dangerous Marquis Johnson can be, and the Tigers have Courtney Crutchfield, James Madison II, Donovan Olugbode, Shaun Terry II and DaMarion Fowlkes all waiting in the wings. If one of them can slot in for Wease, the Tigers should have a high-functioning pass attack next year.

5. Are we too worried?

So far Missouri has lost 10 players to the portal. The leading contributor of that group, according to Pro Football Focus snap counts? Mekhi Miller, the local wide receiver who was only targeted 12 times all season. Nwaneri and Brown combined for 75 snaps, while Brayshawn Littlejohn only got 12. Replacing outgoing production (at least via the portal) won’t be too much of a problem. The potential of some players is another discussion, but thus far the Tigers haven’t been the victim of too much poaching.

Obviously the QB situation is a concern, especially after the departure of Aidan Glover. Glover clearly read the tea leaves that he wasn’t getting a look at the starter’s job next season, especially not with Sam Horn (I suppose?) coming back from injury and Drink openly courting another starter. If Drinkwitz has ever had a “need” at Mizzou, he needs to get the right QB here in the next week or so.

Otherwise, however, the Tigers situation isn’t all that bad. Does it look awesome to lose your five-star local recruit after only one year in the program? Not particularly. Are there questions about the experience levels on the offensive line? Most definitely. But Mizzou has recruited the high school ranks at an elite level for several years running now, and this is where you start to lean on some of that roster building. The transfer portal can supplement your roster — it cannot build it. There’s still plenty of time in this portal window to supplement the roster for another run at the College Football Playoff in 2025.

Editor’s Note: Since this was written, freshman running back Kewan Lacy has reportedly entered the portal.

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