More than two months after the college football transfer portal window closed for new entries, Missouri football has gone back to the market to make a late, post-spring addition along its defensive line.
Mizzou signed Northern Illinois transfer defensive tackle Mark Hensley out of the transfer portal on Saturday, March 21. Hensley, who is from Labadie, Missouri and played his preps football at Washington High, reposted a report from ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel to his social media page to confirm the news.
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It’s an unexpected late addition for the Tigers, given that there is no spring portal window this season.
Hensley likely was allowed to enter the portal outside of the regular transfer window because of a recent Northern Illinois coaching change, which saw head coach Thomas Hammock become the running backs coach for the Seattle Seahawks on Feb. 18. Defensive coordinator Rob Harley was named NIU’s interim coach shortly after that news was reported.
Under new NCAA transfer regulations, a 15-day portal window opens up for players five days after a team hires a new head coach.
Hensley, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive tackle, must have entered the portal in that window.
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Players do not need to commit to a new school in that timespan. If they intend to transfer, their name must only be entered into the database, and they can pick a new school at essentially any time.
Hensley played 566 snaps over 12 games for NIU last season. According to Pro Football Focus, he recorded 12 quarterback pressures and one sack. He had 32 total tackles last season.
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Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz talks to his team during a timeout during the first quarter of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl at EverBank Stadium Saturday December 27, 2025 in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union]
Mizzou suddenly developed a need for defensive tackle depth in spring camp, as Eli Drinkwitz said backup Elias Williams sustained an injury and could miss the start of the 2026 season.
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Missouri is expected to start returners Marquis Gracial and Jalen Marshall on the interior of the defensive line next season. Miami transfer Donta Simpson, returners Sam Williams and Jason Dowell and freshman Tajh Overton also will compete for defensive tackle snaps.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football adds late transfer commit from NIU defensive tackle
