Eli Drinkwitz’s spring transfer window and Mizzou’s strong position
Eli Drinkwitz had a great start to his 2025 high school class when the rest of the world was falling all over a thin transfer class.

The window for the Spring Transfer Portal closes today. In the two weeks since it opened, Eli Drinkwitz has gotten five potential Tigers to commit.

Oddly enough, only one of these is a transfer at this time.

Drinkwitz added three more blue chippers to a high school class that already included the highest-rated quarterback of the Drinkwitz era, while the rest of college football concentrated on what turned out to be a thin transfer class. A 2025 class that had one pledge as of late concludes as a player-rated consensus Top 20 class.

Oh, and Drinkwitz also signed one of the offensive lineman who was most wanted by teams through the transfer site. Just in case you overlooked it.

Considering the significance

It appears noteworthy that Drinkwitz and his staff would put future roster construction ahead of any chance to strengthen the squad for the upcoming campaign. Strange? Perhaps. Audacious? Of course. What does it reveal about the program, though?

Firstly, it indicates that Drinkwitz is making an effort to keep ahead of the curve. Transfermania 2024, as advertised on the web, was actually a big number of rotating bodies from throughout the nation and a small handful of impact power conference transfers. Many of these players will help their new clubs in fall, but this wasn’t the same as the previous two winter windows, when All-Americans and Heisman winners were coming and going from the gateway like

A swimming pool.

Drink focused much of his attention on securing some crucial pieces for the future in the interim. He brought in linebacker Dante McClellan, of Canton, Ohio, who was highly sought after by several SEC teams. He brought in local blue-chipper Jason Dowell to help raise attention to the Big 10. Additionally, he kept Jack Lange, a longtime Notre Dame lean and among the greatest players in the state, at home.

Marcus Bryant may not have as much of an influence on Mizzou football as one or more of the high school athletes Drinkwitz signed in the last two weeks. That’s not a jab at Bryant, nor is it an inference that these people wouldn’t have done it in another situation. However, it’s noteworthy that Drink took advantage of a moment when most other coaches were using the portal to navigate the high school trail with a purpose.

Second—and perhaps most importantly—it implies that Mizzou, under Eli Drinkwitz, is in a strong position. Bryant was a bit of a luxury, even though he was probably going to be crucial to the Tigers’ one season of success. With the signing of Cayden Green, the Tigers’ offensive line appeared to be solidifying. Since Bryant most certainly takes up the lone starting spot that was open, young players like Jayven Richardson and Logan Reichert, who are still developing as sophomores, won’t have to carry the weight of a starting role.

Other than Bryant, Mizzou hasn’t made many player connections in the media, with the exception of a few top targets in dire need. While Damonic Williams, the starting defensive tackle for TCU, was recently on campus, former Indiana starter Philip Blidi praised

a Mizzou offer prior to deciding to enroll at Auburn. More players in various positions might be added by the Tigers’ staff in the future. They feel content with what they already have, as seen by the fact that they aren’t adding a ton of fresh faces. It is superior to what is available, at the absolute least.

However, Bryant’s dedication demonstrates Mizzou’s strength in another manner. I stated at the start of the portal period that attempting to land a “big fish”—someone who was desired by numerous teams or a number of elite teams—should be one of Drinkwitz’s top priorities. Bryant is eligible. One of the best tackles available in the portal, he was rated as a four-star transfer by two of the premier recruiting organizations. ruling

national runner-up At one point, Washington appeared to be the front-runner and had been sniffing about. Bryant was drawn out of the gateway by Mizzou, a team that is on the rise and intends to contend for big awards in 2024. Since the conclusion of the 2023 season, the Tigers have undoubtedly drawn impact players before. You’re in a strong position if players like Toriano Pride, Marcus Bryant, and Cayden Green choose to play for you.

It does not follow that Mizzou will cease to exist just because the window is closing. Although players have till tomorrow to enter their names in the portal (and graduate transfers have until today), it doesn’t mean they can’t commit.

following. There’s a good chance we’ll meet a few new people before fall camp begins.

But Drinkwitz maintained composure and took action to ensure a brighter present and future for Mizzou Football despite the expected chaos of the previous two weeks.

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