The Morning Commute for Friday, April 11, 2025
Welcome to the Morning Commute
As if the College Basketball transfer portal dominating the headlines for the last month hasn’t been enough, the transfer portal for College Football is opening soon. It isn’t open yet, but we’re already seeing the names of Mizzou players leak out. Some are surprising, some a little less so. The portal officially opens next week, and things could get crazy(er).
The first breaking news was On3’s Hayes Fawcett who dropped the news that Jahkai Lang will enter the transfer portal. Lang was a member of the rotation last season at defensive end, but the depth got a little deeper with Drinkwitz and company using their own portal additions to bolster the defensive line rotation. On top of Zion Young coming back, with Eddie Kelly, Jr, Missouri added Damon Wilson, Langden Kitchen, and Nate Johnson from the portal while also adding 5-star freshman Javion Hilson. Oh and Darris Smith should be back after injuring his knee last year.
Lang is clearly looking for a larger role than Missouri was going to be able to offer this season.
The same could be said for Mikai Gbayor, who signed with Missouri, only to announce he’s entering the portal again here soon. Circumstances change, and the linebacking room got crowded thanks to the Diego Pavia rule rearing its head again. The Tigers were able to bring back starter Triston Newson, along with adding Josiah Trotter, and a healthy Khalil Jacobs, plus some young guys everyone is excited about in Nicolas Rodriguez, Jeremiah Beasley, and Brian Huff.
Then backup safety Jamarion Wayne also announced his intention to transfer. Wayne never fully settled on a position but seemed to be cracking up the depth chart a bit. Then Mizzou went out and added a lock to start in Jalen Catalon, and another power conference starter in Mose Philips. That doesn’t even mention the starts under Marvin Burks belt, Dylan Carnell (who is rightfully his own positional starter), and then the young guys the staff is excited about like Trajen Greco and CJ Bass.
This is the hard part of the football portal, lots of players who you were excited about when they signed, succumbing to the inevitable depth chart numbers problem. There are only so many guys who can play. It just makes you wonder who might be next?
Yesterday at Rock M and Rock M+
- I understand you are all as excited about the Gymnastics Regional Final performance as Karen was and still is, so make sure you read (or re-read) her recap:
Being able to cover the team so closely this season has been a true joy, and the media who has been around the whole time — me, Nate, Grace — have gotten to know this group so well. We’ve seen the incredible culture and the unrelenting work ethic right in front of our eyes, and I agree with what Shannon said. They can out-heart ANYONE.
Vibe check, is Mizzou a Gymnastics school? Moreso than any other program? Inquiring minds.
- Different vibes, but still some Offseason Vibes Checklist continues on:
The Kansas faithful are all-in for the 2025 season. Leipod’s performance in Lawrence has been nothing short of outstanding, turning a destitute program into an exciting team, even winning 9 games in 2023. The team took a step back in 2024 with some hard-luck losses and another poor defensive campaign.
Dan says the fan optimism is unbridled in Lawrence. Let’s go ahead and ruin that.
- If you’re not transfer portal’d out already, Dylan has an updated list on some potential targets:
Next up is another Midwest kid in Shannon Dowell. Originally from O’Fallon, Ill., Dowell played the first two years of her career as an Illinois State Redbird. After starting in a limited role the beginning of her freshman year, Dowell played her way into a starting position to end the year. Dowell finished the regular season strong including a 28-point outing in a close loss to Missouri State.
Oh hey, Dowell is visiting!
- We got a new Volleyball schedule!
Mizzou will face Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, Oklahoma and South Carolina at home. The team will face Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt on the road.
- Want more Olympic Sports? Rory Whetstone has all the updates on Women’s Golf, Men’s Golf, Tennis, and Baseball.
- Over at Rock M+, we’re talking about transfer portal BIG MEN:
More big man options floating around the portal as the week winds down. Think that’ll be the direction of travel over the next few days. Some interesting options like Powell, Fallah, Juslin Bodo Bodo, and Shawn Phillips Jr. haven’t been claimed yet. Three of those also offer some respectable rebounding and rim protection. None project as starter-level guys, but I don’t think there would be the liquidity to chase a dude like KeShawn Murphy or Moustapha Thiam.
The big man market is all over the place and Missouri has some interesting options.
Rock M Radio: Dive Cuts returned to talk portal!
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