If you’ve spent any time looking at the national rankings lately, you might think Eli Drinkwitz and the Mizzou staff just had a "decent" year on the trail. Honestly, that’s a massive understatement. While the final count for missouri football recruiting 2025 might not sit at the very top of the SEC food chain, the quality of the guys actually coming to Columbia is sort of ridiculous when you look at the blue-chip ratio.
The narrative is always about the "big names" that got away—the Corey Simms and Isaiah Mozees of the world who decided to head elsewhere. But if you're actually paying attention to the guys who signed their papers, you'll see a roster that's being built for a very specific type of SEC war. Drinkwitz isn't just collecting talent; he’s collecting physical prototypes that used to only go to Georgia or Bama.
The Crown Jewel and the Signal Caller
Let’s talk about Matt Zollers. Basically every major program in the country wanted a piece of the Royersford, Pennsylvania native. When he picked Mizzou, it wasn't just a win; it was a statement. He's a 6-foot-3, 205-pound pocket passer with enough mobility to keep a defensive coordinator awake at night. Honestly, he’s the kind of guy who can make every single throw on the route tree before his second cup of coffee.
Then there’s Javion Hilson. Landing a five-star (depending on which service you trust more) edge rusher out of Cocoa, Florida is just plain mean. He’s 6-foot-3.5 and 235 pounds of pure chaos. For a long time, Mizzou was the school that developed "under-recruited" three-stars into NFL pass rushers. Now? They’re just starting with the NFL-ready bodies from day one.
Keeping the Fence Up (Mostly)
The 2025 class highlights a weird, fascinating trend in Missouri. The Tigers landed the top two recruits in the state for the second year in a row. Jack Lange, the massive offensive tackle from Eureka, is a 6-foot-7, 295-pound human wall. He’s the top-ranked player in Missouri for a reason. Keeping him home, alongside guys like Daeden Hopkins from Hermann, shows that the "Mizzou Made" mantra isn't just a hashtag.
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It hasn't been perfect, though. You’ve gotta be honest about the misses. Seeing Isaiah Mozee flip to Nebraska or Corey Simms head to USC stings. It just does. But the response from the staff was to pivot and grab Donovan Olugbode out of IMG Academy. Olugbode is a 6-foot-1, 200-pound technician who probably has the highest floor of any receiver in this class.
Why the Transfer Portal Isn't Just "Free Agency"
People get so caught up in high school rankings that they forget how Drinkwitz treats the portal like a scalpel. He isn't just buying a whole new team; he’s filling very specific holes left by guys like Luther Burden III or Brady Cook.
Take a look at the 2025 portal haul:
- Damon Wilson II (Edge, Georgia): A former five-star who just needs a platform to explode.
- Beau Pribula (QB, Penn State): High-level depth and a different dynamic for the offense.
- Ahmad Hardy (RB, ULM): A guy who rushed for over 1,000 yards as a freshman.
This isn't just "missouri football recruiting 2025" in the traditional sense. It’s a hybrid model. The staff is building the foundation with high school kids like Henry Fenuku (OT) and Marquise Davis (RB), then layering on established SEC-level talent to make sure there isn't a drop-off in 2026.
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The Trench Warfare Philosophy
If you want to know what this class is really about, look at the offensive line. They didn't just sign one guy; they signed a small army.
- Jack Lange (6-7, 295)
- Henry Fenuku (6-3, 265)
- Keiton Jones (6-4, 315)
- Khalief Canty Jr. (6-4, 311)
That is a lot of "large human" for one recruiting cycle. In the SEC, you either have the depth to survive November or you don't. Drinkwitz clearly decided that he was never going to get bullied upfront again.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2025 Class
The biggest misconception is that a ranking in the high teens or low twenties means a plateau. If you look at the average player rating, Mizzou is punching way above its weight. They have fewer "filler" three-stars than many teams ranked ahead of them. This is a "top-heavy" class in the best way possible.
Zollers is the centerpiece, but keep an eye on Shaun Terry II. The kid from Ironton, Ohio is electric. He’s only 5-10, but he plays like he’s 6-4 and made of springs. He's exactly the type of "Z" receiver that thrives in this system.
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The Under-the-Radar Names to Watch
Everyone talks about the four-stars, but here are two guys who might actually start earlier than people think:
- Dakotah Terrell (TE): At 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds, he’s basically a pogo stick with hands. He needs to put on weight, but you can’t coach that height.
- Mark Manfred III (CB): A physical corner from Georgia who isn't afraid to stick his nose in the run game. He’s got "special teams demon" written all over him for year one.
The Actionable Bottom Line for Mizzou Fans
If you're tracking the progress of missouri football recruiting 2025, don't just stare at the 247Sports Composite team rankings. Those are volume-based. Instead, look at the roster balance.
- Check the Early Enrollees: Keep an eye on the Spring Game to see how Matt Zollers handles the speed of the first-team defense. If he looks comfortable early, the post-Brady Cook era won't be as scary.
- Watch the Defensive Line Depth: With guys like Javion Hilson and Jason Dowell coming in, see if the Tigers can maintain their Top 20 defensive standing from last year.
- Follow the In-State 2026 Board: Recruiting never stops. The staff is already moving on to Jackson Cantwell (Nixa, MO), who is arguably the best tackle prospect in the country for next year. Winning the 2025 cycle was great, but keeping the 2026 momentum is what creates a dynasty.
The 2025 cycle proved that Missouri is no longer a "developmental" program that hopes to get lucky. They are a destination. Whether it’s five-stars from Florida or the best tackle in their own backyard, the Tigers are finally playing the big boy game.
Next Step: Review the spring practice roster to see which of these 2025 signees officially enrolled early, as their physical development over the next six months will determine who sees the field against non-conference opponents in September.