A way-too-early, post-portal prediction at Missouri football’s offensive depth chart in 2025

Posted by Admin January 9, 2025 Football

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The transfer portal, for now, appears to be winding down.

Missouri football likely has completed a bulk of its portal work, signing 15 new players to join its 2025 roster since the window opened Dec. 9. Mizzou may still make an addition or two before spring ball begins, but the players listed below will make up the majority of who shows up for the offseason practices.

Of the 15 new additions, six have come on the offensive side of the ball, which looks set to see some significant change.

Here’s a way-too-early prediction at how Mizzou’s offensive depth chart may shape up in 2025, with all the updated ins and outs to the Tigers’ roster accounted for. All new transfers have been marked with an asterisk (*).

Who will compete for Missouri football’s starting QB?

The starter: *Beau Pribula, r-jr.; Sam Horn, r-jr.; Drew Pyne, gr.

The reserves: Matt Zollers, fr.

There will be a competition at quarterback to replace Brady Cook, who is now going through the NFL Draft process. It’s likely to be a three-player race for the newly opened starting job in CoMo.

Pribula, a Penn State transfer, is the likely early frontrunner, because why else would MU spend the money in the transfer portal if he wasn’t? He was mostly a threat as a runner for the Nittany Lions in reserve to Drew Allar but will get his chance to run an offense with Missouri.

Horn is still in the recovery process from offseason Tommy John surgery before the 2024 campaign but was seen throwing some passes ahead of the Music City Bowl. He is expected to take part in both MU football’s spring practices and Mizzou baseball’s 2025 season as a pitcher.

Pyne backed up Cook in 2024 when the starter was sidelined with various injuries over the course of the season, and he helped lead a second-half comeback over Oklahoma in November after difficult relief appearances against Auburn and Alabama in October.

Running back

The starters: *Ahmad Hardy, so.; Jamal Roberts, r-so.

The reserves: Tavorus Jones, r-jr.; Austyn Dendy, r-fr.; Marquise Davis, fr.; Brendon Haygood, fr.

Hardy, a ULM transfer who won Sun Belt Freshman of the Year honors in 2024, could figure as the every-down back for Mizzou in 2025. He was a yards-after-contact machine last season at the Group of Five level and did a majority of his damage on zone runs, which should suit Eli Drinkwitz and Kirby Moore’s offense.

The more likely setup in the backfield for the Tigers, though, is for Hardy to split some reps with Roberts, who could come in as a change-of-pace, downhill back.

Wide receiver

The starters: *Kevin Coleman Jr., sr.; Marquis Johnson, sr.; Joshua Manning, jr.

The reserves: Daniel Blood, jr.; James Madison II, r-fr.; Donovan Olugbode, fr.; Shaun Terry, fr.; DaMarion Fowlkes, fr.

The wide receiver room sure looks different.

Mizzou is losing starters Luther Burden III, Theo Wease Jr. and Mookie Cooper to either the NFL or eligibility, as well as backup slot receiver Mekhi Miller as a transfer to Tulsa and freshman Courtney Crutchfield to Arkansas.

MU’s first piece of portal business was to bring in Coleman, a third-team All-SEC wideout at Mississippi State last season, to plug the gap in the slot receiver spot. Johnson, who had a breakout game in Music City Bowl with seven catches for 122 yards and a touchdown, and Manning look like the natural successors for starting roles next season.

Tight end

The starter: Brett Norfleet, jr.

The reserves: Jordan Harris, jr.; Jude James, r-fr.; Whit Hafer, r-fr.; Dakotah Terrell, fr.

Norfleet had surgery shortly after Mizzou’s regular-season finale against Arkansas, meaning he missed MU’s bowl game. He is expected to return in 2025 as the starter at tight end, with Harris the likely No. 2.

Offensive line

The starters: LT: *Johnny Williams IV, r-so.; LG: Cayden Green, jr.; C: Connor Tollison, sr.; RG: Logan Reichert, r-so.; RT: *Keagan Trost, gr.

The reserves: *Dominick Giudice, gr.; Logan Reichert, r-so.; Jayven Richardson, jr.; Brandon Solis, r-fr.; Tristan Wilson, r-jr.; Talan Chandler, r-fr.; Ryan Jostes, r-fr.; Caleb Pyfrom, r-fr.; Curtis Peagler, r-jr.; Jack Lange, fr.; Keiton Jones, fr.; Henry Fenuku, fr.

There’s a lot to sort out along the offensive line.

Both tackle spots and the right guard position need replacements, with Armand Membou, Marcus Bryant and Cam’Ron Johnson all exploring NFL opportunities. Only Connor Tollison and Cayden Green are coming back as returning starters.

Wiliams, a West Virginia transfer, and Trost, a Wake Forest transfer, could plug the tackle positions, but there likely will be some spring and fall competition. Green may also shift outside, which was where he repped early last year.

At the open guard spot, Reichert is the most likely in-house option to move into a starting role. Spring camp should begin to sort out the starters for 2025, but the Tigers have a lot of choices coming.