These 7 Missouri football transfers are the most pivotal on the 2025 roster

Missouri football, from a pure numbers standpoint, has never been more reliant on a transfer class.

Mizzou added 21 players out of the portal this offseason. That’s the most in program history.

In our most recent depth chart projection, written shortly before Eli Drinkwitz’s team wrapped up its fall camp schedule and moved into gameweek prep, the Tigers have nine transfers in starting roles. The remaining 12 are either part of the two-deep, the primary backup at their position or likely to see significant reps on special teams.

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The question is, who do the Tigers need to perform the best to find success?

We took a shot at ranking the most important seven transfers on the Mizzou roster this season. This does not necessarily mean the most high-profile additions, although there certainly will be some overlap.

Instead, this list factors in positional value, the player’s importance within that position group and, ultimately, the degree to which good and bad performances from that player would alter whether Mizzou wins or loses games.

So, with that preamble out of the way, here are the most pivotal transfers on MU’s 2025 roster.

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Missouri football transfer players, ranked

7. Keagan Trost, right tackle

Mizzou lost right tackle Armand Membou as the No. 7-overall draft pick, which means Mizzou lost one of the best run-blockers and most-secure pass protectors in college football from last season.

Eighty percent — four out of the five — of Mizzou’s offensive linemen this season are either newcomers, new starters or players slotting into new positions. Connor Tollison at center is the only true holdover, with Cayden Green bumping outside.

With the way Mizzou runs the outside zone, and with the need to keep a new quarterback as clean as possible, Trost has a huge job ahead of him for the Tigers this season.

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More: Missouri football’s O-line starters are settled. Here’s how Tigers arrived at starting 5

6. Damon Wilson II, defensive end

We would have the highly touted edge rusher higher, but the position group is potentially six players deep and the end-of-season havoc numbers could end up being spread around fairly equally. If he has an off day, there are several players who could pick up the pieces.

But Wilson has the potential to be a game-changing addition for Mizzou. There’s no question that a premier edge rusher can change the face of a defense.

“He’s been a freakish athlete for us,” MU defensive end Zion Young said. “… Damon’s the guy.”

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5. Josiah Trotter, linebacker

If Trotter’s Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year-caliber production translates to the SEC level, Mizzou’s linebacker corps just got a whole heck of lot better. That’s the 92-tackles, five-pressures, one-interception type of better.

Again, this room should run deep. Triston Newson and Khalil Jacobs are major pieces for the Tigers to return.

But Trotter is among the most athletic players on this entire roster.

“Trotter’s a hitter, man,” Mizzou center Connor Tollison said Tuesday. “He has some weight on him.”

More: He growls: New Missouri football linebacker Josiah Trotter showing some bite — and bark

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4. Kevin Coleman Jr., wide receiver

Whoever wins Mizzou’s starting quarterback job (more on that later) needs a go-to receiving option. From what we’ve seen in practice, the short passing game, especially utilizing the slot receiver, is going to be heavily involved in Kirby Moore’s playcalls.

Enter: Coleman.

The experienced wideout had a third team All-SEC season with 932 receiving yards and six touchdowns on an otherwise-wretched Mississippi State offense last season. That’s tremendous production, and an absolute must-have as Mizzou turns a new leaf at wide receiver.

3. Jalen Catalon, safety

The big-hitting, ball-hawking safety is among the most experienced players in the sport. Eli Drinkwitz said when Nick Saban called him to do some preseason scouting for his “College Gameday” appearances, Catalon was the first player he asked about.

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The UNLV transfer, who started his career at Arkansas and also played a season at Texas, has nearly 2,500 career snaps, 272 total tackles and 10 picks on his résumé.

If Catalon is as good as billed, you best believe his big-play ability could single-handedly alter games for the Tigers in 2025.

2. Ahmad Hardy, running back

Let’s not beat around the bush. Mizzou’s offensive success hinges on having the potential All-SEC running back perform his best.

Hardy has the potential to be a special player. The common consensus out of fall camp from MU’s defensive players is that one man typically isn’t enough personnel to drag the Oma, Mississippi, native down.

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He had 1,000 yards rushing in the Sun Belt last season — after contact!

If he can consistently replicate that kind of production wearing the black-and-gold, Mizzou won’t be uncompetitive very often.

1. Beau Pribula, quarterback

This is, of course, presented with the asterisk of all asterisks.

Whether Pribula is the most important player on the roster or not is pending the final determination in Missouri’s QB competition, which Eli Drinkwitz announced Wednesday will extend into the Tigers’ first game of the season.

More: Missouri football QB competition will extend into first game of season, per Eli Drinkwitz

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But, if it does turn out to be Pribula over Sam Horn, the Penn State transfer of course becomes not just the most important transfer, but the most important player on the MU roster. That’s not an argument.

Mizzou’s floor drastically drops if there isn’t a serviceable quarterback on the roster — which we don’t believe to be the case. Similarly, if the transfer exceeds expectations, the College Football Playoff is absolutely on the table.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Top 7 Missouri football transfer players ranked by importance in 2025