According to a report from Hayes Fawcett, the Missouri Tigers suffered their first major loss via the transfer portal with the departure of defensive end Williams Nwaneri.

Nwaneri was a consensus five-star prospect in the class of 2024 and a top-10 prospect. The Lee’s Summit native was the third-highest scoring player in program history, just behind wide receiver Luther Burden III.

For Missouri under head coach Eli Drinkwitz, acquiring the highest-rated prospect in the state of Missouri has been and continues to be a priority. Less than a week ago, the program officially committed offensive lineman Jack Lange, the state’s top-rated prospect for the 2025 class.

“We signed the best player in the state for two consecutive years, which is always important to us,” Drinkwitz said at his Dec. 4 press conference. “Now with Will and Jack we have the opportunity to expand further. “This is of course a division league, and that’s why it’s extremely important for us to be able to keep the best players in the state on offense and defense.”

In that press conference, Drinkwitz spoke several times about the impact Nwaneri would have on the future of the program. The 6-foot-1, 255-pound edge rusher would be an important part of the team’s strength along the defensive line. And that Lange was looking forward to the opportunity to compete with Nwaneri.

Nwaneri played just 38 snaps for the Tigers in his first season and appeared in just four games. Missouri suffered two season-ending injuries throughout the season, including Darris Smith during fall camp and Joe Moore III before Week 7. Nwaneri played 16 snaps in the first game without Moore, but that was also in a game against UMass where the Tigers went to Leading 24-3 at halftime.

Missouri seemed to view Nwaneri as a long-term project. Developing players at this pace is becoming increasingly difficult given the mobility available to players in the current era of college athletics.

“The good news for him is that he doesn’t have to feel any pressure, like he has to step in right away and save the day,” Drinkwitz said in a press conference before fall camp. “We have a lot of really good players at the defensive end position, and now he can just come in and get up to speed as quickly as possible and then use his natural gifts and abilities.”

Meanwhile, safety Trajen Greco and linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez earned roles at Missouri in 2024 during their actual freshmen seasons. Willing to play right away as a freshman, Drinkwitz thought it would be an enticing opportunity for four-star defensive lineman Javion Hilson, who also signed with the Tigers last Wednesday.

“I think everyone was really excited about what we could do, and this is a position (defensive end) that has proven in the SEC that you can come in early and play,” Drinkwitz said. “Especially given what some other guys have done as freshmen in this conference, I think he (Hilson) saw an opportunity to make his mark on one of the best conferences in college football.”

Nwaneri’s reasons for entering the transfer portal are unknown. He is the Tigers’ first defensive player to enter the transfer portal. Before heading to Missouri, Oklahoma and Georgia were also among Nwaneri’s top three high schools.

“Mizzou plays Iowa in the Music City Bowl.”
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