With how good Mizzou football has been in 2025, it's hard to nitpick something that needs improvement. However, it's become more apparent with each game how much help the secondary needs.
There's some inexperience out deep defensively, and the unit is looking for a true leader to step up and take over. The squad lost a potential option for that spot earlier today, as Caleb Flagg has decided to enter the NCAA Transfer Portal.
He's appeared in four games this season, recording just four tackles and a pair of pass breakups. Flagg actually announced his plan to redshirt the year a few weeks ago, but abruptly changed his mind, and now will depart from the program.
Flagg credited his defensive teammates in the social media post where he announced his decision to transfer, saying "I'm grateful for my defensive brothers." and going onto to thank all the staff along the way, as well as Mizzou as a football program and school.
The Texas native came over from Houston Christian College after the 2023-24 campaign. While on the Huskies, he played in 21 games across two seasons, starting seven, and surpassed 100 tackles, and 11 pass breakups.
He was active all over the field, adding three tackles for loss, a sack, two interceptions, and three forced fumbles. It's clear why the Tigers recruited him.
His first year with Mizzou in 2024 was a lot prettier than his start this season, playing in 11 contests and notching 20 tackles to go along with a forced fumble.
A big part of Flagg's decision to come to Columbia was the transfer of his older brother Corey Jr., who also joined the Tigers in the same offseason, after four seasons at the University of Miami.
In Corey's final colleigate season, he led Mizzou, and was 14th in the SEC Conference, with 81 total tackles, and added a sack and a pick at linebacker. He played in every game, but started the final seven.
Corey entered the NFL Draft ahead of last April, and wasn't drafted, despite being invited to multiple NFL teams's Rookie Minicamps.
With his older brother no longer a part of the program, it seems that Caleb was ready to leave himself.
Flagg has all the potential in the world to be a fantastic defensive back, as long as he can piece together several good plays, and find a way to make a consistent impact on a team that needs him.