Missouri football grades. Review of offensive line, predictions for 2026
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Welcome to the weeks when the postseason and offseason collide.
Missouri football is a little bit more than a week removed from finishing its regular season. The Tigers are a little bit less than three weeks away from facing Virginia in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 27 in Jacksonville, Florida.
All the while, Eli Drinkwitz — who recently signed a contract extension through the 2031 season — and his staff will be dealing with a crucially important offseason stretch, when the 2026 roster will come together.
The college football transfer portal has been pushed back and shortened. The window will now open for entries Jan. 2-16. There will be no spring transfer portal.
When it comes around, one of the positions Mizzou could be the most active in is along the offensive line, where three starters could potentially be off to the NFL.
Here’s what you need to know about Missouri football’s offensive line entering the offseason, including who is likely to leave, who can return, whether or not the Tigers will be active in the transfer portal at this position, and more:
Who is graduating, heading to the NFL, or transferring?
We know two starters are finished after this season: center Connor Tollison and All-SEC first-team right tackle Keagan Trost.
The Tigers are waiting on a decision from All-SEC second-team left tackle Cayden Green, who is wrapping up his junior season and could declare for the NFL Draft.
As of Tuesday, Dec. 9, there have been no Mizzou offensive linemen who have announced an intention to transfer when the portal window opens.
Who can return in 2026, who is in freshman class?
All class classifications are based how players will be listed in 2026.
Eligible returners: Curtis Peagler, r-sr.; Cayden Green, sr.; Dominick Giudice, gr.; Jayven Richardson, r-sr.; Tristan Wilson, r-sr.; Logan Reichert, r-jr.; Johnny Williams IV, r-jr.; Jaylen Early, r-sr.; Henry Fenuku, r-fr.; Brandon Solis, r-jr.; Ryan Jostes, r-so.; Whit Hafer, r-so.; Jack Lange, r-fr.; Keiton Jones, r-fr.
Class of 2026 signees: Johnnie Jones, fr.; Brandon Anderson, fr.; Khalief Canty, fr.; Brysen Wessell, fr.; Braylon Ellison, fr..
Peagler and Giudice are returning starters and will be the favorites to lock up the starting guard spots next season. Wilson appears to have been put on the fast track to replace Tollison at center and filled in at times while Tollison was rehabbing an injury.
The big question will be whether Reichert, Richardson and Williams can enter the competition for starting jobs. We’d expect some turnover here from deeper down the depth chart.
What does Mizzou need to add?
Irrelevant of whether Green stays or goes, Mizzou will almost certainly be in the transfer portal market for an offensive tackle.
If Green does elect to head to the NFL early, then the Tigers are likely trying to sign at least two outside O-linemen.
Green and Trost are massive pieces; two All-SEC team selections. That’s not an easy duo to replace.
We doubt Mizzou’s staff is going to wait until spring camp to get an answer to whether the likes of Williams, Reichert, or Richardson can step up and become SEC-caliber starting offensive tackles.
The offensive line — specifically the tackle spots — will be a top priority in January.
Offensive line 2025 regular season grade: C+
We’re not quite as low on this position as some seemed to be.
Ahmad Hardy ran for 1,560 yards behind this line in the regular season, which leads the SEC. Of those, 449 yards were before contact, which gives a good frame of reference for how much push he was getting in front of him. That’s on par with Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love and Ole Miss’ Kewan Lacy for before-contact yards.
The biggest problems for Mizzou’s O-line were penalties and pass protection.
Mizzou’s interior offensive line — left guard, center, right guard — allowed a combined 37 pressures to get to quarterbacks. That’s a lot.
The Tigers’ starters also were tagged for 22 penalties, or more than 70% of the total penalties on the offense. Again, a lot.
Credit where it’s due — placing two offensive tackles on the All-SEC teams is worth praising, especially a year after losing first-round draft pick Armand Membou and seventh-round selection Marcus Bryant.
Prediction for next season. What will unit look like?
2026 season prediction
Starters: LT: Transfer; LG: Dominick Giudice; C: Tristan Wilson; RG: Curtis Peagler; RT: Transfer.
Backups:LT: Jayven Richardson; LG: Keiton Jones; C: Henry Fenuku; RG: Logan Reichert; RT: Johnny Williams IV.
Green is going to be a professional one day, so we’re going to guess he follows his former high school and Mizzou teammate, Armand Membou, with a third-year draft declaration. That could, of course, change, but Green is an extremely good player, and there is a chance his name is called on Day 2 in the 2026 draft.
That means Mizzou likely needs two starting tackles, which we expect it will fill with transfers.
There will be some competition at the guard spots. Giudice can play center and right guard and could move positions. We could certainly see Reichert fighting for a place in the offseason.
Replacing three starters is always tough up front. So, this has to be a top priority. And top priority at tackle in the SEC tends to mean top dollar.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football offensive line 2025 review, grades, 2026 predictions
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