After transferring to the Missouri Tigers this past offseason, Toriano Pride has already made his presence felt on the field. This confident, swaggy defensive back is poised for a breakout season following his two years at Clemson.
Pride plays with the confidence essential for a standout cornerback. He’s quick on his feet with excellent vision, which he showcased by jumping an out-route and returning the interception for a pick-six against Murray State. The play was impressive and set the tone for Missouri's defense in their 51-0 season-opening demolition of the Racers.
Toriano Pride is finally a Missouri Tiger. pic.twitter.com/ydClaUer21
— BarSTPol Mizzou (@BarstoolMizzou) August 30, 2024
Coming out of East St. Louis, Pride was highly regarded as one of the top players in his class, ranked 10th at his position and 70th overall. Initially, he chose Clemson over offers from Missouri, Ohio State, and Oregon. However, when things didn’t quite click at Clemson, Pride decided to come home to Columbia, Missouri, ahead of his junior season.
As a true freshman at Clemson, the 5-foot-11 defensive back made 14 appearances, including two starts. Pride ended the season with 23 tackles, four pass deflections, a sack, and an interception. After a sophomore campaign in 2023, where he tallied just 14 tackles, Pride found a change of scenery, with his talent already showcased.
Watching how defensive coordinator Corey Batoon utilized Toriano Pride in Week 1 was impressive, often pairing him with fellow cornerbacks Daylan Carnell and Nick Deloach. Batoon's scheme, featuring five defensive back sets, provided Pride with the opportunity to thrive on the field.
Pride has fully embraced the brotherhood at Mizzou, and competing against top receivers in practice has sharpened his skills for facing tougher competition.
"I'm going against Luther, Theo, and all the other receivers, so it's like I have no choice but to play fast," Pride said. "I'm 100% positive I'm not playing anybody on my schedule better than my receiver corps. Just practicing against the best, giving it my all, so I can make those kinds of plays in the game."
Pride was exciting to watch in Week 1, and we can expect a big season from the junior who transferred from Clemson. Big things are on the horizon for this defensive unit, and it will be interesting to see how they face off against tougher opponents in the near future.