Missouri football lands Notre Dame safety, FCS All-American running back
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Coming soon to Columbia: A 6-foot-5 safety and an FCS All-American running back.
Missouri football added two more players to its transfer portal tally, which now stands at six commitments, after Notre Dame freshman safety JaDon Blair and Houston Christian running back Xai’Shaun Edwards each announced Tuesday night that they are transferring to the Tigers.
That caps up a busy couple of days for Missouri in the portal. Earlier Tuesday, the signing of Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons became official. On Monday, Missouri landed Oregon cornerback Jahlil Florence, Auburn linebacker Robert Woodyard Jr. and Cincinnati wide receiver Caleb Goodie.
Blair just finished his true freshman season with the Fighting Irish. He played in one game, recording two tackles in Notre Dame’s blowout win over Syracuse in November.
The safety is a former four-star recruit out of Winston Salem, North Carolina. He was ranked as the No. 155-overall player in the Class of 2025 in 247Sports’ composite ratings.
Blair is listed a 6-5, which is some tremendous size and length for the position.
Mizzou needed safety depth after starter Marvin Burks Jr. made the surprising decision to enter the transfer portal. The Tigers also are losing Daylan Carnell and Jalen Catalon to eligibility.
MU did get some good news Tuesday, as the news dropped that freshman safety and East St. Louis product CJ Bass III will, after all, not enter the transfer portal, per a report from PowerMizzou. It was previously reported that Bass would transfer.
Now, with Blair and Bass, the Tigers have two promising redshirt freshmen joining expected rotation members Santana Banner, Trajen Greco and Mose Phillips III on the roster.
Mizzou also needed running back depth, and Edwards should give the Tigers a capable emergency option behind Ahmad Hardy and Jamal Roberts, who will return in 2026.
Edwards was a Freshman FCS All-American after rushing for 1,019 yards and 12 touchdowns for Houston Christian last season.
The Tigers do not need a running back starter. Hardy was a consensus All-American. Roberts was as capable a No. 2 option as any tailback in the country.
But freshmen Marquise Davis and Brendon Haygood are transferring, as is longtime backup Tavorus Jones. The only other running back expected on the MU roster next season was true freshman Maxwell Warner.
The Tigers needed depth, and they’re getting productive depth with Edwards.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football adds Notre Dame DB, FCS All-American running back
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