Five under-the-radar transfers for Missouri football in 2026

Camp is right around the corner.

Missouri football players will report for fall camp this coming weekend, with the Tigers‘ first practice of the preseason scheduled for Monday, Aug. 3. Mizzou’s season begins one month later against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Thursday, Sept. 3, in Columbia.

There are more than 50 newcomers on the Tigers’ roster this year. Thirty of those players are transfers, many of whom will be crucial parts of the team’s rotation in the 2026 campaign. You probably know the main names: Austin Simmons; Robert Woodyard Jr.; Cayden Lee; et cetera.

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But who are some of the players fans will see on Faurot Field that haven’t quite garnered the same preseason hype?

Here are five Missouri football transfers who we think have flown a little under the radar this offseason, but could have a major impact on the Tigers’ 2026 season:

Cayden Lee was one of Mizzou’s most high-profile transfer signings. Donovan Olugbode’s outstanding freshman year made him one of the Tigers’ top returners. It makes sense that those are the two names creating the most excitement for Mizzou’s pass-catchers this year.

But don’t sleep on Goodie.

Most Missouri fans are probably vaguely aware of the Cincinnati transfer’s strengths. Telemetry Sports once clocked his top on-field speed as one of the five fastest wide receivers in all of college football. That sure helps. But it’s what he’s done with that speed that we’re most intrigued by.

Goodie caught 29 passes for 484 yards and two touchdowns last season in Cincy. He had a 436-yard year with Colorado State before that. His average reception has gone for 18.4 yards.

He can stretch the field in a hurry, and he has back-to-back years with proof of production. Mizzou wants to be more of a vertical threat with Simmons at quarterback, and this addition could help.

Jones has all the physical tools the Tigers are looking for out of a field-side defensive end. He’s 6 foot 5 and 257 pounds. You can’t teach length and mass.

It never worked out for Jones at Florida State, where he battled injuries and was otherwise mostly a reserve. He finished three years in Tallahassee with only nine tackles, one of which for a loss of yardage.

Can he turn his physical gift into top-level production in Columbia? Mizzou likely will start returner Langden Kitchen as its field end this year, which is where Zion Young was so effective in 2025. There are snaps up for grabs at this spot, with Jones likely to also compete with Miami transfer Malik Bryant and JUCO newcomer Demarcus Johnson for reps.

Jones is maybe not the flashiest portal addition, but defensive ends coach Brian Early has quite a canvas to work with.

“(New special team coach John Papuchis) had familiarity with him from being from Florida State,” Drinkwitz said in the spring. “So, you know, with (Jones) being sidelined with some injuries, he kind of gave us some insight into the future potential of what he could do.”

Josh Atkins and Luke Work are the two O-line transfers that Missouri fans have likely heard about in the past handful of weeks and months. With Atkins injured and Work competing to fill his starting spot, their names have been in the news.

But let us point you toward the other transfer big man on the Mizzou offensive line: Owens, the 6-6, 340-pound Mississippi State transfer who will compete to be the Tigers’ next starting left guard.

Owens didn’t allow a sack over a period of 500 snaps, per Pro Football Focus, which includes every single rep he took at left guard. He graded as a top-20 pass-blocking offensive guard in the SEC last season, among players with 300 or more passing snaps.

Pairing Owens’ sheer size with the length, strength and athleticism of Cayden Green out at tackle, the left side of the Missouri offensive line looks like it could be in a good place.

Reus followed Papuchis, Mizzou’s new special teams coordinator, from Florida State this offseason, and it looks like he has already locked down the job as Mizzou’s next punter. He’ll also handle kickoffs and holding duties for Blake Craig.

Punting has not been a strong suit for Mizzou in recent seasons. The Tigers’ average punt distance has been bottom two in the SEC for the past two years.

Kohl’s Kicking Camps rated Reus as the No. 2 punter in the nation in his class, and we’re generally inclined to be a little higher on players who coaches bring with them from school to school.

Auburn, for all its recent trials, had a strong defense last season, and Louidor-Faustin was a prominent member of a competitive, young defensive back-end.

The safety finished last season with 20 tackles, one interception and a sack. He had 17 interceptions in his high school career. He has some position flexibility, which is useful as Mizzou works out its rotation for the new year.

Santana Banner is the only other Mizzou safety with high-level starting experience. Every other player in the room would be a first-time starter. 

Louidor-Faustin’s SEC experience could be highly valuable.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Five under-the-radar transfers for Missouri football in 2026