Three things we learned on the first day of the transfer portal

Congratulations! You’ve made it done 6.7 percent of nan transportation portal season. Do you consciousness for illustration throwing yourself done a wall yet? Or is that conscionable me?

The truth is, each nan rumors and intrigue astir nan athletics correct now? Probably a nett positive! Message boards are popping, programme liking is precocious for non-CFP teams, etc. Personally? I consciousness for illustration I’m going a small crazy. But I person to really support immoderate way of this stuff.

The first time of portal play has travel and gone, and Mizzou was progressive arsenic ever. To thief you drawback up, present are 3 things we learned from nan portal’s first time being open.

There were respective bits of news that popped connected Friday, and that’s if you are already taking for granted that Matt Zollers officially “re-signed” for 2026 according to Mizzou Football’s charismatic accounts.

The astir actual spot of reporting came from ESPN’s Pete Thamel, who reported that Ole Miss backup QB Austin Simmons plans connected transferring aft nan Rebels’ CFP tally is over… and he’s expected to transportation to Mizzou.

Nothing is charismatic until deals are signed, but each signs constituent to Simmons joining up pinch nan Tigers successful Columbia. And Mizzou fans would beryllium correct to get excited. Simmons feels for illustration a Beau Pribula type of transfer, having spent nan only 2 seasons of his profession arsenic a backmost up. But folks whitethorn hide that Simmons really hit retired Trinidad Chambliss retired of autumn campy this year, and only mislaid his occupation aft an ankle wounded allowed Chambliss to declare nan spot and ne'er look back. That Simmons, who was rumored to besides beryllium an action for Lane Kiffin astatine LSU, would caput to Missouri demonstrates that nan Tigers person a astonishing level of pull.

But that’s not nan only QB news we sewage connected Friday. There were besides reports connecting Mizzou to a slew of transportation quarterbacks, from First Team All-Conference USA Amari Odom (who will sojourn Columbia adjacent week), to Florida transportation DJ Lagway, to Ohio State’s Lincoln Kieholz. We don’t cognize precisely what nan unit is planning, but it feels for illustration nan extremity correct now is to bring successful high-end talent and group up different QB conflict successful nan outpouring and summer. Having Zollers and Simmons successful nan fold would beryllium a bully start, but it wouldn’t beryllium a astonishment to spot Drinkwitz and caller violative coordinator Chip Lindsey bring different QB successful to subordinate nan fray.

As if you didn’t already cognize that based connected constituent number one! It’s not astonishing that a two-week model will characteristic a batch of moving pieces, particularly for a squad for illustration Missouri that is now northbound of 20 portal departures. This year’s transportation people will beryllium large, and nan unit isn’t waiting astir to bring successful caller guys.

So far, astatine slightest 3 players person reported scheduled visits to Mizzou, each connected nan protect end. They see Jacksonville State DL Emmanuel Oyebadejo, Emory & Henry EDGE Mason Purham, and San Diego State’ DB Dalesean Staley. There’s large title for each of these guys, and Mizzou won’t beryllium capable to reel successful everyone. But nan unit is casting a wide nett and moving quickly to make judge nan guys they for illustration cognize they’re a priority. It seems for illustration Eli Drinkwitz came prepared for this caller improvement of nan portal.

If there’s 1 point we cognize astir Eli Drinkwitz and portal season, it’s that he loves to bring a section kid home. And location are plentifulness of section kids looking for caller homes this clip around.

Staley, mentioned above, is simply a Kansas City native, and Mizzou looks to beryllium successful bully style for his services. Fellow KC autochthonal Andrew Sprague, who conscionable capped an honorable mention All Big 10 season, has besides entered nan portal pinch a “do not contact” tag, which usually intends players already cognize wherever they’re headed.

Among nan others pinch section ties to nan programme who could beryllium options for positions successful request connected nan extent 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 conscionable nan extremity of nan iceberg.

It’s difficult to overemphasize conscionable really galore players participate nan portal successful each cycle, truthful location will beryllium plentifulness of guys to sift through. But Drinkwitz has proven peculiarly adept astatine singling retired guys pinch connections to nan programme who want to make their measurement backmost successful immoderate way, shape, aliases form. There are nary shortage of those players this clip around, and it mightiness activity to nan staff’s use arsenic they look to statement up aggregate positions connected nan field.