One of Missouri football’s most promising, accomplished additions of the transfer portal landed Tuesday, Jan. 20.
Mizzou has signed Ole Miss starting cornerback Chris Graves Jr., who appeared in all 15 games for the Rebels in their run to the College Football Playoff semifinals last season. Graves visited Missouri on Saturday.
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The news that he has committed to the Tigers was first reported by Pete Nakos and Hayes Fawcett at On3. It has since been reposted by Austin Simmons, Missouri’s new quarterback and a former teammate of Graves at Ole Miss.
Graves played more than 1,000 snaps at corner over three seasons in Oxford, Mississippi. He moved into a starting role at the beginning of the 2025 season and was a near-mainstay on the Rebels’ defense throughout the season.
He finished the 2025 season with three pass breakups and a forced fumble. In 399 coverage snaps, according to Pro Football Focus, he was targeted in the passing game 35 times but allowed only 18 catches, which is a 51.4% completion rate.
PFF’s coverage responsibility assignment is not always perfect, but the analytics site charted the corner for allowing four catches of 30 or more yards.
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Graves almost certainly will immediately contend for a starting role in the Mizzou secondary.
Cornerback was a major position of need for the Tigers in this transfer portal window. The three players who played the majority of Mizzou’s cornerback snaps this season — Dreyden Norwood, Toriano Pride Jr. and Stephen Hall combined for 90% of MU’s snap share — are all of eligibility.
That left Mizzou lacking experience at the position. Some depth pieces entered the portal, and only two players with any collegiate playing experience, Cameron Keys and Nicholas DeLoach Jr., were eligible to return.
Missouri’s first portal signing was Oregon corner Jahlil Florence, who started for the Ducks in 2023 but has since dealt with injury problems. His former Oregon teammate, Sione Laulea, also has signed with Mizzou. The Tigers also got a marquee pickup in Michigan freshman cornerback Elijah Dotson.
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All of those players have high upside. But Graves has recent starting experience, which should benefit the room.
Ole Miss defensive back Chris Graves Jr. (32) and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris (51) celebrate with Ole Miss cheerleaders during a college football game between Mississippi State and Ole Miss at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss., on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. Ole Miss defeated Mississippi State 38-19 in the Egg Bowl.
Mizzou has now added 26 players out of the transfer portal, which closed for entries after Friday, Jan. 16.
That doesn’t mean that there will be no more portal movement. The deadline was only for new entries. Players who submitted their portal paperwork in time can sign with a new school essentially whenever they want.
More: The transfer portal is closed. What does Missouri football still need?
More: Missouri football adds interior OL transfer from Mississippi State
Mizzou is likely still looking for a defensive end, defensive tackle and wide receiver.
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The cornerback room, which was a top priority, appears to be finalized.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football signs Ole Miss starting corner Chris Graves from portal
