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NEW STORY 2026 LB IMPRESSED BY DEREK NICHOLSON DURING FIRST VISIT

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After many attempts to get Jakore Smith on campus, Missouri welcomed the four-star linebacker Saturday.

Smith, the No. 4 recruit in Arkansas, made his first unofficial visit to see the Tigers for a Junior Day event. He was offered by former co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach D.J. Smith, so a new relationship was formed this past weekend.

"The new linebacker coach, you can tell he wants to be there for real, and it wasn't for the money," Smith said about Derek Nicholson, who joined the Tigers officially Saturday after two seasons at Miami (FL). "He was just excited to be there and excited to answer questions. ... He's going to do some special with the linebackers."

More on Smith's first unofficial visit to Missouri:

FOOTBALL RECRUITING Javion Hilson retains fifth star

Rivals.com announced the final five-star update for the Class of 2025 on Tuesday:

@Adam Gorney's Take: Javion Hilson might own the craziest recruitment among the five-stars in the 2025 class and in the end, Missouri won out for the five-star defensive end. The Cocoa, Fla., standout first committed to Alabama and then was pledged to Florida State before reopening his recruitment again. That’s when things went off as Hilson was looking at UCF, Pitt, Syracuse, Florida State, Texas and Texas A&M. But a late visit to Missouri swayed his decision and he picked the Tigers.

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Hilson has all the tools on the field to be special. The five-star defensive end has incredible length and burst off the line of scrimmage, almost where he gets by the offensive tackle before he can get out of their stance. He has an aggressive mentality and a relentless pursuit to the ball and that kind of motor will be needed in the SEC.

FOOTBALL RECRUITING Rumor Mill: Tigers target Class of 2028 QB Brady Quinn

From @Adam Gorney at the Navy National Combine:

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With a dozen offers already, the 2028 quarterback from Naples (Fla.) First Baptist Academy has Missouri, Nebraska and Miami as his three early standouts. There could be a lot of movement here though as Clemson is the dream school - he watched Deshaun Watson and Trevor Lawrence growing up - and then Florida, Florida State, Georgia and Virginia Tech are all showing interest.

FOOTBALL RECRUITING Notebook: Nicholson hits trail; Recruit models game after Hilson

Nine recruits from southern states discussed their Missouri offers and interest from staffers. The NCAA Contact Period opened Jan. 6, offering college coaches full access to contact and visit prospective players until Feb. 1.

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While offered by Missouri in August, Class of 2026 three-star Shmar Akande noted the Tigers have still been in contact with him. The Toledo commit talks with assistant head coach and cornerbacks Al Pogue from time to time as he's looking forward to a visit from a Tigers staffer this month.

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Newly hired linebackers coach Derek Nicholson offered Class of 2026 four--star Jordan Campbell on Tuesday. Nicholson received the pledge of Campbell at Miami (FL) in November 2023 before leaving for Missouri this month.

"It means a lot for me," Campbell told national recruiting analyst John Garcia Jr. "Coach still strongly believes in my play."

It's too soon to say whether Missouri and Nicholson have a shot at the Miami (Fla.) Carol City outside linebacker, but Campbell would consider a visit to Columbia in the near future.

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Running backs coach Curtis Luper visited the Dallas-Fort Worth area Thursday, returning to a place he's called home and found under-the-radar talent. He landed three-star running back Brendon Haygood in the Class of 2025 and has now turned to the Class of 2026.

JunTavious Harris, who hasn't announced an offer from the Tigers, spoke with Luper about his ankle sprain he suffered this past season, touching on his rehab process. Harris also laid out his expectations for his track season at Euless (Tex.) Trinity.

"We talked about my film from this past season, and we spoke a little about the offense they run," Harris said. "But overall, he was just interested and how I was doing and what my plans were for the offseason."

Six more recruits included here:

FOOTBALL GA follows Smith to App State

Defensive graduate assistant Devin Coleman left Missouri for Appalachian State to become the program's next assistant defensive backs coach, joining former Tigers co-defensive coordinator D.J. Smith. Coleman previously worked under defensive coordinator Corey Batoon at South Alabama.

Coleman assisted in the recruitment of Jamarrion Gordon as well as other recruits from the Southeast:

NEW STORY TOP ARKANSAS RECRUIT RELISHES SECOND VISIT FOR RIVALRY GAME

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Among a sea of college football recruits stood a woman cheering on her Razorbacks.

Danny Beale, the No. 1 prospect in Arkansas for the Class of 2026, could only laugh. He grew up on Arkansas athletics, and being at Mizzou Arena on Saturday fulfilled his desire to see the men's basketball rivalry firsthand.

"Everybody in the recruit section wanted Missouri to win. Every time Arkansas would do something she'd yell, 'I'm from Arkansas. I don't care. I'm going to cheer for Arkansas,'" Beale chuckled.

It was only fitting Beale returned to Missouri for a visit that featured a contest against his home-state program. He last visited Columbia for the Tigers' season finale Nov. 30, when the football program defeated the Razorbacks to keep the Battle Line Rivalry trophy.

That game also coincidentally marked Beale's first at Missouri, while his previous trips to Columbia came during the offseason. Beale has kept a tight relationship with defensive line coach Al Davis ever since he received his offer, and this past weekend only strengthened that bond.

More from Beale:

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FOOTBALL Projecting the 2025 FB season

Another 10 win season in the books. 21 wins in two years. After some tough portal poaches, the staff regrouped and arguably replaced our losses with better players.

Replacing Cook is obviously the big question mark but Pribula has a chance to be a very good QB.

Looking at next year’s schedule, I think it sets up even better than this past year for us to go on a nice run.

Central Arkansas - W
kansass - W (love that this is in Como vs Arrowhead)
Louisiana - W
South Carolina - W (I think we get our revenge)
UMass - W
BYE

We should expect to start 5-0 heading into the October 11th clash vs. Bama

Bama - toss up
@ Auburn - W (Not scared of Auburn)
@ Vandy - W (I think Vandy’s Cinderella run comes to an end next season)
A&M - toss up but I like our chances at home
Miss State - W
@ OU - W (Venables will be dead man walking by this game)
@ Arky - W (Pittman will be dead man walking by this game)

Another 10 win season is very reasonable, but taking our shot against Bama and A&M at home gives me hope they next year could be special.

NEW STORY RANKING TIGER PORTAL ADDITIONS ON OFFENSE

I ranked the defensive additions last week, so I flipped it around and did the offense. But as I explain in the story, I feel a bit odd ranking linemen and skill-positions together. How do you guys feel about that split and where the importance lies in the Tiger offense?

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#Tigerstyle 2023-2024 Offseason

Another year, another Top 10 preseason ranking and I would argue the #2 recruiting class coming in next year. Oh, another thing, #Tigerstyle has also produced a back-to-back World Champion and undisputed best wrestler in America with Mr. J'den Cox.

2019-2020 is a year of transition. Eierman is taking an Olympic redshirt. Zach Elam will be joining him. That means Grant Leeth and his bionic neck move to 141lb with an unknown at 285.

This isn't the year we threaten the top dogs, BUT it is the year we set the foundation for a national title run in 2020-2021.

Big test today versus Virginia Tech at 11am central on ESPN+.

Some key matches: 125, 149, 157, 165, 184.

I wish I had more time to breakdown matches individual, but our friend Sean Mael at Missouriwrestling.com

Here is the link: https://www.missouriwrestling.com/mizzou-tiger-style-kicks-off-season-at-virginia-tech/

Let's go #Tigerstyle!

FOOTBALL RECRUITING Danny Beale

Getting breakfast at McD this morning and noticed mom & son all decked out in MU colors. Son was Big, so I asked mom if he was on the MU team. She said he was a recruit here for Junior Day. Son’s name is Danny Beale, # 1 player in AR. He’s listed as DT. She said he played both off/def.
He’s 16, junior in HS and is huge. Son played for Wynne, AR. He was very polite and friendly.

Said they visited Ol Miss last week and it was only 2 hr drive. Missouri was 6 hr drive. I thought about getting a pic, but didn’t want to be a stalker.

FOOTBALL RECRUITING MIZZOU JANUARY OFFERS

As staffers hit the road to recruit players in person, more offseason targets will arise, so this thread will show all of that moving forward. I don't want to burry anything with a new offer thread, unless it's someone who calls for it.

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While on the road Wednesday, safeties coach Jacob Yoro offered Class of 2027 wide receiver Saniiyn Black.

I spoke with Black in February 2023:


Updated notes:

Yoro never met with Saniiyn Black on Wednesday, but after a film review and conversation with the staff at Zephyrhills (Fla.) High, the Missouri coach extended an offer to the sophomore defensive back.

Black has primarily played safety, although listed as a wide receiver on Rivals.com. The sophomore, who totaled 42 tackles in 2024, impressed Yoro with physicality and ball-tracking ability in a 6-foot, 170-pound frame.

"I still have time to develop all of my abilities," Black said about his future position. "We would have to see in the future."

There are currently no leaders in Black's recruitment. He also doesn't have any visits planned for January.

FOOTBALL RECRUITING Final Rivals250 update for 2025 class

Where Missouri signees ranked:

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Hilson, the top weakside defensive end, moved down one spot but kept his five-star status, while opting out of an all-star event this winter.

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Olugbode didn't move after strong showings in the Under Armour Next All-America Game and Polynesian Bowl.

From @Adam Gorney:

The ones we really might regret not pulling the five-star trigger on are Georgia's CJ Wiley and Missouri's Donovan Olugbode, who isn't the fastest receiver in the world but should put up big numbers because he never drops anything.

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Bass dropped 16 spots while not competing in a postseason event.

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Lange peaked at 103 but slid 12 spots in the final update after the Navy All-American Bowl.

NEW STORY MIZZOU TARGETS NEXT PENNSYLVANIA QB STANDOUT

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Kirby Moore might become a familiar face in Pennsylvania.

The Missouri offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach traveled to Wyndmoor (Pa.) La Salle College High School on Tuesday for a workout with Gavin Sidwar. Impressed by Sidwar's ability to throw on time with accuracy, Moore noticed a strong stroke and quickness behind the pro-style passer's throws.

"He said I'm not a QB that just runs around trying to find a play to make," Sidwar said. "He can tell by my tape that I understand coverages and how to attack defenses. ... He said I have great feet."

Moore came away impressed with Sidwar, offering the three-star at the end of their workout. It marked back-to-back cycles for Moore to target a signal caller from Pennsylvania as he signed Class of 2025 four-star Matt Zollers of Royersford (Pa.) Spring Ford in December.

More on Sidwar's connections to Missouri, Zollers and college football:

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GAME THREAD No. 22 Mizzou at Texas

We're within an hour of game time so I figured I'd get the game thread started.

First off, here's the last update for the injury report
Screenshot 2025-01-21 at 7.08.41 PM.png
Trent Burns remains out and Chendall Weaver is out for Texas. Weaver averages 6.7 points and 5.1 rebounds per game and has started 9-of-15 games he's played this season.


Also, if you're looking for some pre-game reading, check out what I'll be looking at from this morning.

Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. on SEC Network
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