Mizzou’s top-ranked freshman could move on.

According to a report from On3 recruiting reporter Hayes Fawcett on Tuesday morning, Williams Nwaneri, a five-star recruit in the class of 2024, is expected to enter the transfer portal.

Nwaneri was the top-ranked defensive lineman in the country in his recruiting class and was ranked No. 8 overall in the country, according to the 247Sports composite rankings. The recruiting service rates him as the Tigers’ third-best recruit of all time. He transferred to the Tigers from Lee’s Summit North near Kansas City.

But the true newcomer only played a minor role as a rookie. Nwaneri played four games this season as a true freshman, meaning he retained his redshirt and has four years of eligibility remaining.

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According to PFF, Nwaneri played 38 snaps this season, ranking sixth among all Mizzou defensive ends. He was credited with a sack and a rush.

Mizzou is expected to lose senior defensive players Johnny Walker Jr. and Joe Moore III to eligibility at the end of the season. The Tigers can bring back Zion Young, Jakhai Lang, Jaylen Brown, Eddie Kelly Jr. and Darris Smith, who sat out the 2024 season due to injury.

The Tigers also signed top-50 prospect Javion Hilson from Florida last Wednesday. Hilson, a native of Cocoa, Florida, is the 42nd ranked prospect in his class and chose the Tigers over the likes of Texas, Syracuse and Texas A&M.

Hilson will come aboard along with Hermann, Missouri native Daeden Hopkins, an edge rusher who is also one of the top 200 prospects in the country this recruiting cycle.

As a reminder, Nwaneri entering the portal does not necessarily mean he will be removed from the program. As easily as a player can enter the database, he can also withdraw his name.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football DE Williams Nwaneri is reportedly entering the transfer portal