Yesterday, we took a look at six returners who could take on a bigger role this year. Today, let’s talk about the transfers. I talked to a handful of them about why they chose Mizzou and what their goals and expectations are.
Kristian Williams
Position: DT
Year: RS JR
Previous School: Oregon
Last Year: Played in 14 games and made 16 tackles
Williams was a late addition to the class. He entered the portal at the deadline and we basically heard nothing out of him until he committed to Missouri following a visit.
“I felt like it was a good place for me from that, not just because of this physical aspect, just like the people here that's the biggest thing,” he said. “The bonds here of just knowing that I'll be okay. It's a home away from home. And everybody cares for one another, it’s family oriented. So I mean, they don't only care about you as just a player. Outside of the uniform, outside of the helmet and stuff, they care for you as a family member, as a brother, as a man, as a father. Things like that is it's pretty outstanding to have, outstanding to know that you have.”
Williams said he learned at Oregon intangibles like leadership and devotion to the team. He was at practice and is eligible for the season. When I asked him about expectations, he said he wasn’t setting any other than staying in the moment and devoting himself to making the team better.
DJ Coleman
Position: DE
Year: Graduate Senior
Previous School: Jacksonville State
Last Year: Made 55 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 3 sacks. First-team all-OVC, second-team all-American
The one word that comes to mind with Coleman is confidence. When I asked him his goals this season, he said “Dominate the SEC with my team.” I asked him what about his game translates to the SEC and he said “Everything.”
He looks the part physically without a doubt. He’s a grown man. You don’t bring grad transfers in for any other reason except to play. If there’s anyone who can push Isaiah McGuire and Trajan Jeffcoat, it’s Coleman. As for his reasons for choosing Mizzou:
“It just was the vibe with the coaches. I really liked the coach. Everything was real. From the beginning. It wasn't no BS. Everything was real.”
Joseph Charleston
Position: S
Year: RS JR
Previous School: Clemson
Last Year: Played in 4 games and made 7 tackles
Charleston is probably in the best position of any transfer to start. Jaylon Carlies is set at one safety spot, but Martez Manuel is working at the hybrid “STAR” position which means there’s playing time available at deep safety and Mizzou doesn’t have much proven experience.
“I think that I'm good in the run game,” Charleston said. “I’m a pretty physical player. And I think that I'm just real agile. I think I have a good IQ for the game. I mean, things that I need to work on, I think there's always room to work on something. So I will say everything.”
Charleston is a little bit different than most of the transfers. He’s transferring from a Power Five school where he played a good amount. So why Mizzou?
“I got a chance to see and I just thought that, you know, it was the best fit for me,” he said. “I had a great feeling. You know, I thought everybody around me was real genuine and I just fit well.”
Micah Manning
Position: WR
Year: RS SO
Previous School: Iowa Western CC
Last Year: Played in 2 games and had one reception
Manning played in two games and caught one pass as a redshirt freshman at IWCC. Let’s be honest: The chances that he’s going to see the field are remote.
“Coming here I'm not too far out (from home),” Manning said. “This is the best for me being down here. It's been good. It's been a good transition. You know I love the teammates and everything.”
Manning’s brother is recent 4-star commit Josh Manning. No Tiger was more excited about his commitment than Micah.
“The chance to get on the field together, it worked out perfect,” Micah said.
Makyi Lee
Position: OL
Year: JR
Previous School: Coffeyville CC
Last Year: Played in 2 games at Coffeyville
Lee committed pretty late and hit campus in early June as offensive line insurance. It seems like it might be a stretch for him to be ready, but he does have ready-made size at 6-8, 335. He’s not making any bold predictions about playing time.
“I just love the coaches,” Lee said. I'd been talking to all of them and they all knew who I was when I came out.
“For the most part, I’m a quiet person, so it's kind of hard for me to get out there but it's slowly happening, slowly but surely. All the workouts obviously comes with football so I got used to it pretty fast.”
Marcus Johnson stressed the need to be patient with a guy who didn’t arrive until early summer.
“I gotta have some some sort of patience with him and not putting a lot of pressure on him and you got to be ready,” the offensive line coach said. “I understand there's a process but he's a guy with a lot of potential. I gotta get him ready as soon as possible."
Demariyon Houston
Position: WR
Year: RS JR
Previous School: Nebraska/Hutchinson CC
Last Year: Played in 11 games at Hutch. Caught 19 passes for 280 yards
Houston originally committed to Mizzou for 2023, but they figured out he could get classwork done to get eligible for 2022 and he did that.
“It's been fun, interesting. Everything here is new,” Houston said. “It is different you know, coming from a big school down, juco…Just being here and being around a team, you feel like you really got something to prove.
Eli Drinkwitz said Houston didn’t practice today, but he will be out there soon. I talked to Jacob Peeler about him yesterday. Peeler had recruited Houston a few years ago when Peeler signed with Nebraska.
“He brought a skill set that were you know, looking forward in terms of his overall speed,” Peeler said. “I think he's a guy that we can put in a press coverage situation. I think he's shown that he can defeat press and which in this league, we know is a big determining factor in success at the receiver positions who can get off first. So I thought that the speed and just as you know, he's been around it, was kind of a seasoned vet and he was in a situation where he can graduate and get it done. And so, had some conversations and I think he's done really well of adjusting and kind of, you know, getting in with the group and kind of finding his niche.”
I asked Houston what his ideal receiver and position role is: “Football player.”
Ty'Ron Hopper
Position: LB
Year: JR
Previous School: Florida
Last Year: Played in 13 games for the Gators, made 65 tackles, 10 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 2 PBU and a forced fumble
Hopper has gotten the most hype of any transfer, in large part because he made 12 tackles against Mizzou and Tiger fans saw it up close. He is not a vocal guy at all, but Blake Baker said he's taken on a bit of a leadership role and fit in with the guys.
Chad Bailey told us he can play in the box or out, he's a very versatile linebacker. It would be very surprising if Hopper isn't starting in game one against Louisiana Tech.
All of our fall camp coverage is brought to you by Quirk Hard Seltzer from Boulevard Brewing Company. Quirk Hard Seltzers are made with real fruit juice and ingredient-driven flavor combinations. Clean, high quality and gluten-free, Quirk is infinitely enjoyable and brimming with unpredictably individuality—it’s hard seltzer with more personality.
Kristian Williams
Position: DT
Year: RS JR
Previous School: Oregon
Last Year: Played in 14 games and made 16 tackles
Williams was a late addition to the class. He entered the portal at the deadline and we basically heard nothing out of him until he committed to Missouri following a visit.
“I felt like it was a good place for me from that, not just because of this physical aspect, just like the people here that's the biggest thing,” he said. “The bonds here of just knowing that I'll be okay. It's a home away from home. And everybody cares for one another, it’s family oriented. So I mean, they don't only care about you as just a player. Outside of the uniform, outside of the helmet and stuff, they care for you as a family member, as a brother, as a man, as a father. Things like that is it's pretty outstanding to have, outstanding to know that you have.”
Williams said he learned at Oregon intangibles like leadership and devotion to the team. He was at practice and is eligible for the season. When I asked him about expectations, he said he wasn’t setting any other than staying in the moment and devoting himself to making the team better.
DJ Coleman
Position: DE
Year: Graduate Senior
Previous School: Jacksonville State
Last Year: Made 55 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 3 sacks. First-team all-OVC, second-team all-American
The one word that comes to mind with Coleman is confidence. When I asked him his goals this season, he said “Dominate the SEC with my team.” I asked him what about his game translates to the SEC and he said “Everything.”
He looks the part physically without a doubt. He’s a grown man. You don’t bring grad transfers in for any other reason except to play. If there’s anyone who can push Isaiah McGuire and Trajan Jeffcoat, it’s Coleman. As for his reasons for choosing Mizzou:
“It just was the vibe with the coaches. I really liked the coach. Everything was real. From the beginning. It wasn't no BS. Everything was real.”
Joseph Charleston
Position: S
Year: RS JR
Previous School: Clemson
Last Year: Played in 4 games and made 7 tackles
Charleston is probably in the best position of any transfer to start. Jaylon Carlies is set at one safety spot, but Martez Manuel is working at the hybrid “STAR” position which means there’s playing time available at deep safety and Mizzou doesn’t have much proven experience.
“I think that I'm good in the run game,” Charleston said. “I’m a pretty physical player. And I think that I'm just real agile. I think I have a good IQ for the game. I mean, things that I need to work on, I think there's always room to work on something. So I will say everything.”
Charleston is a little bit different than most of the transfers. He’s transferring from a Power Five school where he played a good amount. So why Mizzou?
“I got a chance to see and I just thought that, you know, it was the best fit for me,” he said. “I had a great feeling. You know, I thought everybody around me was real genuine and I just fit well.”
Micah Manning
Position: WR
Year: RS SO
Previous School: Iowa Western CC
Last Year: Played in 2 games and had one reception
Manning played in two games and caught one pass as a redshirt freshman at IWCC. Let’s be honest: The chances that he’s going to see the field are remote.
“Coming here I'm not too far out (from home),” Manning said. “This is the best for me being down here. It's been good. It's been a good transition. You know I love the teammates and everything.”
Manning’s brother is recent 4-star commit Josh Manning. No Tiger was more excited about his commitment than Micah.
“The chance to get on the field together, it worked out perfect,” Micah said.
Makyi Lee
Position: OL
Year: JR
Previous School: Coffeyville CC
Last Year: Played in 2 games at Coffeyville
Lee committed pretty late and hit campus in early June as offensive line insurance. It seems like it might be a stretch for him to be ready, but he does have ready-made size at 6-8, 335. He’s not making any bold predictions about playing time.
“I just love the coaches,” Lee said. I'd been talking to all of them and they all knew who I was when I came out.
“For the most part, I’m a quiet person, so it's kind of hard for me to get out there but it's slowly happening, slowly but surely. All the workouts obviously comes with football so I got used to it pretty fast.”
Marcus Johnson stressed the need to be patient with a guy who didn’t arrive until early summer.
“I gotta have some some sort of patience with him and not putting a lot of pressure on him and you got to be ready,” the offensive line coach said. “I understand there's a process but he's a guy with a lot of potential. I gotta get him ready as soon as possible."
Demariyon Houston
Position: WR
Year: RS JR
Previous School: Nebraska/Hutchinson CC
Last Year: Played in 11 games at Hutch. Caught 19 passes for 280 yards
Houston originally committed to Mizzou for 2023, but they figured out he could get classwork done to get eligible for 2022 and he did that.
“It's been fun, interesting. Everything here is new,” Houston said. “It is different you know, coming from a big school down, juco…Just being here and being around a team, you feel like you really got something to prove.
Eli Drinkwitz said Houston didn’t practice today, but he will be out there soon. I talked to Jacob Peeler about him yesterday. Peeler had recruited Houston a few years ago when Peeler signed with Nebraska.
“He brought a skill set that were you know, looking forward in terms of his overall speed,” Peeler said. “I think he's a guy that we can put in a press coverage situation. I think he's shown that he can defeat press and which in this league, we know is a big determining factor in success at the receiver positions who can get off first. So I thought that the speed and just as you know, he's been around it, was kind of a seasoned vet and he was in a situation where he can graduate and get it done. And so, had some conversations and I think he's done really well of adjusting and kind of, you know, getting in with the group and kind of finding his niche.”
I asked Houston what his ideal receiver and position role is: “Football player.”
Ty'Ron Hopper
Position: LB
Year: JR
Previous School: Florida
Last Year: Played in 13 games for the Gators, made 65 tackles, 10 TFL, 3.5 sacks, 2 PBU and a forced fumble
Hopper has gotten the most hype of any transfer, in large part because he made 12 tackles against Mizzou and Tiger fans saw it up close. He is not a vocal guy at all, but Blake Baker said he's taken on a bit of a leadership role and fit in with the guys.
Chad Bailey told us he can play in the box or out, he's a very versatile linebacker. It would be very surprising if Hopper isn't starting in game one against Louisiana Tech.
All of our fall camp coverage is brought to you by Quirk Hard Seltzer from Boulevard Brewing Company. Quirk Hard Seltzers are made with real fruit juice and ingredient-driven flavor combinations. Clean, high quality and gluten-free, Quirk is infinitely enjoyable and brimming with unpredictably individuality—it’s hard seltzer with more personality.
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