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4 days ago
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Missouri football QB Beau Pribula talks Penn State transfer, Mizzou fit on podcast appearance
For what seems to be the first time since making the move to Missouri football, new Tigers quarterback Beau Pribula went public about his offseason transfer from Penn State. Pribula was a guest on the Front Office Sports podcast 'Next Up' with former All-American tight end and host Adam Breneman, talking with the host for approximately 50 minutes about his career, transfer and time so far with Mizzou Pribula, who is currently in what is widely viewed as a two-player competition with Sam Horn to be Missouri's next starting quarterback, and Breneman discussed the QB's time as a backup at Penn State, his transfer portal process and his first offseason in Columbia. Here are the most notable quotes from the podcast as Pribula opened up on his transfer process and his first offseason with Mizzou: Timeline, reason for Beau Pribula entering the transfer portal Pribula's entry to the transfer portal in December made waves, as he instantly became one of the most notable case studies for college football's pseudo-free-agency market and its inconvenient timing on the calendar. As Pribula explained to Breneman, he didn't have much of a choice if he wanted to find a team where he could compete to start and fit what he was looking for schematically and personally. He widely drew sympathy for his situation, viewed as a player who was forced to leave his team in the middle of a College Football Playoff run because waiting would have been detrimental to his future prospects. Pribula said he held multiple meetings with Penn State coach James Franklin after the Lions' Big Ten title loss to Oregon. Starting PSU quarterback Drew Allar announced shortly afterward he was returning and forgoing the NFL Draft. Pribula said it hadn't crossed his mind to transfer. After Allar's decision became public, Pribula said his family phoned him and said they thought it best to enter the portal. The backup QB and Franklin, as the quarterback explained it, attempted to come up with a plan to keep him with the squad until their playoff run was over. But that wasn't a realistic course of action. 'I couldn't be in the transfer portal and be on the team at the same time. I understood. That was a team rule, like it was just — it would have been too much of a distraction, so I couldn't do that,' Pribula told Breneman. 'But again, just thinking about it more, these spots are getting filled. Like, it's quarterback. There's only one on the field, one quarterback on the field at a time. And it was like, I need to find a good spot, like I need to go on visits. 'It was rough, like it was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, like making that decision and leaving the team before the playoffs. … It was just horrible timing, and I hope it's getting fixed. You know, it's like free agency during the playoffs. It's insane.' Why did Beau Pribula choose Missouri? Don't talk to the quarterback about stadium tours or photoshoots or five-star dinners. His list of needs for an official visit are fairly simple. 'I want to talk to the head coach, and I want to talk to the offensive coordinator,' Pribula said, 'and then, like, I'm good. I don't need anything else.' Pribula said he took five official visits: Mizzou; UCF; Ole Miss; and Iowa. He had two more visits canceled: Wisconsin and Indiana. 'I went (to Mizzou), first thing is, like, 'Wow, they have really nice facilities.' Like, I went in there, I'm taking an elevator to the fourth floor to talk to Coach Drinkwitz. … I was like, 'Wow. This is, like, it's kind of nicer than Penn State,'' Pribula said. 'But it was really just getting with Coach Drink, the head coach, hanging out with him, and then Kirby Moore, the offensive coordinator; (Saints head coach) Kellen Moore's younger brother. … But like I said, it was really just those two things: Am I a good fit, and I met with the offensive coordinator for a while. Like, hour, two-hour meeting, just talking about scheme and stuff like that. And I was like, 'that's pretty good, that's kind of what I want right here. Like, this OC is dialed.' 'They have a really good football team, and they have a really good football program going on an upward trajectory. And I was like, 'I'm gonna take these other visits to compare and contrast and see, but like, I don't know, it's gonna be tough to beat.'' Pribula committed to the Tigers shortly after he wrapped up his final visit. He said his second choice, for what it's worth, likely was Iowa. On his fit with Mizzou, starting QB potential Perhaps the biggest question mark about Pribula's starting credentials is his ability as a passer and to lead an offense for four quarters. At Penn State, he was mostly used as a wrinkle in the Nittany Lions' offense, operating as a run-first, wildcat quarterback, with quite a bit of success, in spot relief of Allar. He has rushed for six yards per carry in his career, including 10 trips to the end zone. He has thrown just 56 total passes, but has a 9:1 touchdown-interception ratio. Pribula recognized the questions as fair from an outsider's lens — but he disagrees. 'I have complete confidence in myself as a passer,' Pribula said. 'People just don't know it yet. Like, I know my teammates know it. I know my coaches know it. It makes sense that people don't, from the outside, don't see it, but I know for 100% (certain), like, I'm a complete quarterback. There's no doubt in my mind. … And I mean, people still say stuff, like, 'oh, you know, he can't really throw.' But I know 100% I can throw just as good as any quarterback in the country. I can play quarterback as well as any quarterback in the country. I'm just excited to hopefully show that.' There's a lot to like about Pribula's potential fit with Mizzou. He's athletic, a lot like Cook. There seems to be a common consensus of respect from his former teammates about the type of character he is. Even after transferring, the outpouring of support from his former head coach and teammates has been noteworthy. If he can prove himself as a passer, Missouri's ceiling immediately rises. More: What is MLB Draft future for Sam Horn? What draft pick could mean for Missouri football QB, RHP More: How will new quarterback Beau Pribula fit with Missouri football? Behind the QB's track record First, he has to win the job, of course. 'I was so locked in (during Mizzou's spring camp), like I have been ever since I left Penn State,' Pribula said. 'Nothing's mattered to me more than being the best I can be and being the best quarterback for this team this year. Because, you know, I've got two years left, and I want to have no regrets, like, I want to be the best I can be.' This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football QB Beau Pribula talks transfer on podcast appearance
Yahoo
04-07-2025
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Wisconsin football sees notable class of 2026 target commit to Missouri
Wisconsin football class of 2026 target, safety Tony Forney Jr., committed to Missouri on Friday. Forney chose the Tigers over a group of finalists that also included Wisconsin, Georgia, Auburn and Pittsburgh. Advertisement 247Sports lists the hotly pursued safety as a three-star recruit. He's specifically ranked as the No. 747 player in the class of 2026, the No. 67 safety and the No. 85 player from the state of Georgia. Prior to announcing his verbal commitment, Forney took official visits to Missouri on May 30 and to Wisconsin on June 13. His extensive offer sheet also included Arizona State, Duke, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kansas State, Kentucky, LSU, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Vanderbilt and West Virginia. Forney joins a Missouri class of 2026 that currently ranks No. 72 in the nation with just 10 players committed. That group is also the 15th-ranked of 16 SEC classes, leading only Auburn (No. 84 overall, seven commitments). Wisconsin's class of 2026, meanwhile, ranks No. 43 nationally with 15 players committed. That group recently received a major boost with commitments from blue-chip offensive playmakers Jayden Petit and Amari Latimer. However, it is still the Big Ten's No. 14-ranked class at this late stage of the process. Advertisement The Badgers will need a flurry of blue-chip commitments if they are to threaten the nation's top 25 -- a standing the program has held in each of the last two recruiting cycles. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion This article originally appeared on Badgers Wire: Wisconsin recruiting target Tony Forney commits to Missouri
Yahoo
03-07-2025
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5 Missouri football players who are All-SEC candidates on offense in 2025 season
Let's lean into the preseason talk for a moment. Missouri football is less than a month away from reporting for preseason camp. The Tigers, in recent seasons, have reported to campus in Columbia on the final weekend of July. Advertisement Most national outlets will begin rolling out some preseason accolades and predictions over the upcoming days and weeks. Talking season will be in full swing in the middle of the month, with MU head coach Eli Drinkwitz set to appear at SEC Media Days on July 17 in Atlanta. While it's popular, here are five Missouri football players on the offensive side of the ball who we think have the best chance to have All-SEC-caliber seasons: Cayden Green, left guard Sep 7, 2024; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Brady Cook (12) is lifted by offensive lineman Cayden Green (70) after scoring against the Buffalo Bulls during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. We're not alone in tipping the left guard for a big year. Phil Steele's magazine rates him as both a preseason All-SEC and All-American. Green was picked as a preseason second- and third-team All-American by Walter Camp and Athlon Sports, respectively. Advertisement There's seemingly the potential that the Tigers could send offensive linemen to the NFL as first-round picks in back-to-back years, as Green is tipped by some to have Day 1 potential in 2026. Green, listed a 6 feet 5, 324 pounds, looked more and more comfortable in the Mizzou offense as last season progressed — his sophomore campaign after transferring to the Tigers from Oklahoma. If he can continue to take strides in his development, the Lee's Summit, Missouri, product shapes up as one of the most talented players on the MU roster this season. Ahmad Hardy, running back More: Can Ahmad Hardy be Missouri football's next star running back? Early signs encouraging Advertisement The ULM transfer running back was one of three Mizzou players named to Phil Steele's preseason All-SEC second team, and there's every reason to believe Hardy could be the Tigers' next great tailback. Hardy rushed for 1,351 yards and 13 touchdowns as a rookie, earning him freshman All-American honors from the FWAA and On3. He picked up 1,012 of those yards after contact last season. For context, that means his YAC total alone would have ranked among the top 50 in the FBS and fourth in the SEC. Hardy has experience running outside zone from ULM — a staple of an Eli Drinkwitz offense. Jamal Roberts and freshman Marquise Davis are likely to pick up some reps, but the bulk of the work looks to be headed Hardy's way. Advertisement The recipe is there for a big season. Kevin Coleman Jr., wide receiver More: How new Missouri football wide receiver Kevin Coleman is earning trust, filling big number Coleman also picked up second-team All-SEC honors from Phil Steele — a good sign as he fills the shoes of an important Mizzou player for the past few seasons. The senior transfer will replace fellow St. Louis product Luther Burden III as Mizzou's slot receiver, which indicates he'll be the top passing option for whoever, between Beau Pribula and Sam Horn, wins the Tigers' starting quarterback job. Coleman transferred to Mizzou from Mississippi State, where he earned third-team All-SEC honors on an otherwise woebegone Bulldogs offense. He caught 74 passes for 932 yards and six touchdowns last season. Advertisement He has a bunch of experience in college football, between other one-season stints at Jackson State, where he was the SWAC Freshman of the Year under Deion Sanders, and Louisville. With 132 career receptions and more than 1,700 receiving yards, he should be an experienced head in an otherwise young receiving room. Connor Tollison, center Oct 12, 2024; Amherst, Massachusetts, USA; Missouri Tigers offensive lineman Connor Tollison (55) snaps the ball during the first half against the Massachusetts Minutemen at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images Tollison is another Mizzou offensive lineman likely to earn some NFL buzz heading into the 2026 draft. He is listed as a preseason fourth-team All-SEC selection by Phil Steele. Few centers in college football have more experience: Tollison has amassed 2,356 career snaps, per a team news release, and has been MU's starting center since the beginning of the 2022 campaign. Advertisement The big question facing Tollison is health-related, as he sustained a season-ending knee injury after MU's win over Oklahoma in November, and he underwent successful surgery late last year. All current expectations are that the Jackson, Missouri, native will return in time to start the 2025 season. Brett Norfleet, tight end Nov 18, 2023; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers tight end Brett Norfleet (87) leaps over a Florida Gators defender during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports Norfleet's name is flying a little under the radar this offseason, perhaps because of some comparatively underwhelming numbers while he battled injuries as a sophomore in 2024. But, make no mistake: If Norfleet is fully healthy after offseason surgery, he has sky-high potential. Advertisement The O'Fallon, Missouri, native who played at Francis Howell High is listed at 6 feet 6, 263 pounds. Pair that with some elite athleticism — we've all seen those post-catch hurdles — and you have a player who could emerge as a premier pass-catching option. The Tigers have to find a way to get him more involved in the offense for this prediction to play out, but the tools are certainly there. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: 5 Missouri football players who have All-SEC potential on offense
Yahoo
01-07-2025
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Missouri football lands pledge on back-to-back days, adds offensive lineman to 2026 class
Missouri football's Class of 2026 just got quite a bit bigger. Three-star offensive lineman Khalief Canty Jr. has committed to the Tigers' next recruiting class, he announced Tuesday while at the Rivals Five-Star showcase in Indianapolis, where he is currently practicing and competing at the Indianapolis Colts' facilities alongside 100 high-school prospects. Rivals first reported his commitment. Advertisement Canty is the second player to commit to the Tigers in as many days, following Chicago-based, three-star running back Maxwell Warner's pledge Monday. The offensive lineman is the No. 434-ranked player in his class, according to the recruiting service 247Sports' composite rankings. That makes the Detroit product the No. 38-ranked interior offensive lineman in this cycle, and the No. 9 prospect in the state of Michigan. Canty is listed at 6 foot 5, 305 pounds, and plays his high school football at Cass Technical. He chose Mizzou over Michigan State and Pittsburgh. Mizzou now has six players committed to its Class of 2026, five of whom play on the offensive side of the ball. Advertisement Mizzou now has one commitment at each offensive skill position, with Warner at running back, quarterback Gavin Sidwar, wide receiver Jabari Brady and tight end Isaac Jensen. Mizzou's other commitment in this cycle has come from four-star, in-state linebacker Keenan Harris out of St. Louis University High. Detroit Cass Tech offensive lineman Khalief Canty With Canty's commitment taking the Tigers up to six pledges in this cycle, they no longer have the fewest commitments in the SEC. MU jumped ahead of Auburn in terms of total pledges and 247Sports' composite team rankings. However, Mizzou is still lagging behind many of its other conference peers in this cycle. Only four other SEC teams have fewer than 10 total commitments, with South Carolina the next-lowest in the rankings with eight pledges. Sep 14, 2024; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers head coach Eli Drinkwitz greets players against the Boston College Eagles prior to a game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images Missouri now has the No. 82-ranked class in the nation in the 2026 cycle. That still ranks behind the likes of Idaho and Temple. Advertisement More: New England Patriots reportedly sign former Missouri football OL who just won UFL title More: Missouri football adds Chicago-based running back Maxwell Warner to 2026 recruiting class However, this is expected to be a busy period on the recruiting front for MU. The Tigers have hosted around 30 official visitors over the course of June, and a number of their top targets are expected to announce their commitments over the coming days and weeks. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football adds three-star OL out of Michigan to 2026 class
Yahoo
01-07-2025
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Upcoming recruiting commitment dates to know for Missouri football Class of 2026 targets
Last week featured a mixture of wins and losses on the recruiting trail for the Tigers. Missouri football landed four players between Monday and Sunday. Three-star running back Maxwell Warner, three-star wide receiver, three-star offensive lineman Khalief Canty Jr., and, to round out the week, four-star offensive lineman Brandon Anderson committed to the Tigers. Advertisement Head coach Eli Drinkwitz and company also missed out on a handful of targets, with four-star offensive lineman Evan Goodwin committing to SMU, four-star defensive lineman Danny Beale pledging to Oklahoma State, four-star wide receiver Jayden Petit heading to Wisconsin, and one-time MU defensive line commit — and re-recruiting target — Anthony Kennedy Jr. choosing Miami. As the calendar flips to July, the upcoming couple of weeks could define the Tigers' 2026 class. As it stands, the Tigers hold the No. 76-ranked Class of 2026 in the country, per the recruiting service 247Sports' national team rankings. That's wedged between Toledo and Oregon State on the leaderboard. More: Mizzou athletics' revenue-sharing plan officially begins July 1. What you need to know Advertisement There are a number of possible reasons, including an increased focus on the transfer portal over high school, but that's still much lower than Mizzou's recruiting norm in the Drinkwitz era. It's also not where MU's Class of 2026 will end up. The Tigers consistently have had top-25 recruiting classes under Drinkwitz. A bulk of their next high school class — likely to be around 15 players — could come in the next 10 days. Eight Mizzou targets will announce their college commitments over the next 10 days. Here are names and dates to keep an eye on: OL Braylon Ellison: Tuesday, July 1 247Sports composite ranking: No. 1,422 Advertisement Position ranking (IOL): No. 117 It would be a surprise to see the Boonville prospect go anywhere other than Mizzou. Ellison's father, Attiyah Ellison, played for the Tigers from 2001-04 and is MU's current director of player and alumni relations. His older brother, Tyson Ellison, was a walk-on for the team last year. Ellison, a three-star prospect listed at 6 foot 4, 285 pounds, would bring the Tigers up to three O-Lineman in this cycle, all of whom are expected to play on the interior. Linebacker JJ Bush: Wednesday, July 2 247Sports composite ranking: No. 493 Position ranking (LB): No. 35 The Theodore, Alabama, product will make his choice between Mizzou, LSU, Arkansas and Cincinnati — and it seems to be a race between the SEC schools at this point. Bush is rated a three-star prospect in 247Sports' composite rankings but as a four-star talent in their own rankings. Advertisement The linebacker, listed at 6-3, 210, officially visited Mizzou back in May and has taken other trips since then. Safety Tony Forney Jr.: Friday, July 4 247Sports composite ranking: No. 747 Position ranking (S): No. 65 Will there be another reason for fireworks? Forney, a 5-11, 185, safety out of Marietta, Georgia, will choose between Mizzou, Wisconsin, Georgia, Auburn and Pittsburgh on the Fourth. Defensive tackle Keytrin Harris: Saturday, July 5 247Sports composite ranking: No. 439 Position ranking (DT): No. 49 Mizzou is in atypical recruiting waters here, as Harris comes from Chandler, Arizona. The Tigers are dueling with California and in-state Arizona for the three-star DT's commitment. Advertisement MU was somewhat late to offer Harris, with his official offer coming in mid-May. Landing the 6-3, 290 tackle would be a significant win for the Tigers in mostly unfamiliar territory. Keytrin Harris, a 6-foot-4, 305-pound defensive tackle, is among the top 2026 football prospects in the country. And he wants to put a little CAA program called AZ Compass Prep on the map in 2025. LB Adam Balogoun-Ali: Sunday, July 6 247Sports composite ranking: No. 300 Position ranking (LB): No. 20 This is perhaps the least likely player to pick Mizzou on this list. It's an all-SEC race, with Auburn and Kentucky also vying for Balogoun-Ali's commitment. Auburn is viewed as the favorite to land the Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, prospect's pledge. More: Missouri football reportedly will no longer play Illinois in 2026, 2032. What that means for MU ATH Jayden McGregory: Monday, July 7 247Sports composite ranking: No. 399 Advertisement Position ranking (ATH): No. 24 McGregory is listed as an athlete but is expected to play as a safety at the collegiate level. He will choose between the Tigers, Louisville and Minnesota, and the West Des Moines, Iowa, product has received a crystal ball prediction from 247Sports to land with MU. He did, however, seem to dispute that on his X account. He is a four-star prospect, listed at 6-2, 195. West Des Moines Valley's Jayden McGregory runs the ball during the West Des Moines Valley and Waterloo West football game at Valley Stadium on Friday, Oct. 11, 2024, in West Des Moines. ATH Javonte Smith: Tuesday, July 8 247Sports composite ranking: No. 956 Position ranking (WR): No. 149 Smith, a Jackson, Tennessee prospect, is expected to play wide receiver, although still listed as an athlete by 247Sports. Mizzou is competing with Arkansas, Tennessee and West Virginia for his commitment. Advertisement The Tigers have already received pledges from two wideouts in this class. They may still add another, but that could very well factor into Smith's decision, too. Safety Jowell Combay: Wednesday, July 9 247Sports composite ranking: No. 631 Position ranking (S): No. 49 Combay is a teammate with Forney, listed above, at Kell High in Georgia. Tennessee, South Carolina, and Wisconsin appear to be the main competitors for the three-star prospect, who is listed at 6-1, 190. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Commitment dates to know for Missouri football recruiting targets
