Monday, Dec. 17 was the most active day for the Missouri Tigers to date in the transfer portal during this window.
With the additions of three defensive standouts and the loss of a highly talented running back with three years of eligibility remaining, it was a news-filled day for Mizzou.
Despite the loss of Kewan Lacy, Coach Drinkwitz will likely be satisfied with the overall outcome and is surely continuing to scour and negotiate within the transfer portal as the process unfolds.
Here's a breakdown of all four moves that occurred yesterday.
1. Kewan Lacy
On Monday morning, Mizzou was left stunned when Kewan Lacy entered the transfer portal. Reports indicated that Lacy and the Tigers had an agreement for the soon-to-be sophomore running back to stay in Columbia. However, Lacy announced his decision to leave via a social media post, with reactions from his former teammates telling the story. Clarity arrived Monday evening when Lacy wasted no time committing to Ole Miss, the same school Mizzou had surprisingly beaten out for his commitment last season.
Instead of dwelling on the loss, head coach Eli Drinkwitz used the moment as motivation, quickly securing commitments from three defensive players following the news.
2. Mikai Gbayor
Nebraska linebacker Mikai Gbayor announced his commitment to Mizzou on Monday morning, addressing a key need for the Tigers' defense. Gbayor started every game for the Huskers in the 2024 season, recording 49 tackles. Highly sought after in the transfer portal, Gbayor arrives at Mizzou with the opportunity to make an immediate impact. He was rated as the second-best linebacker available in the portal, trailing only Oklahoma's Dasan McCullough.
3. Santana Banner
Santana Banner became Mizzou's first defensive commit from the transfer portal after an impressive redshirt freshman season at Northern Illinois. Banner chose the Tigers over offers from Arkansas, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, and Cincinnati. With Mizzou needing reinforcements in the secondary, Banner is a strong addition to address that void. He recorded 54 tackles, four passes defended, one interception, and one forced fumble for the Huskies this past season.
4. Josiah Trotter
Last, but certainly not least, is Josiah Trotter, a linebacker transfer from West Virginia. Simply put, this kid can play. Trotter tallied 93 tackles (four for loss) and an interception across 12 games in 2024, earning the title of Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. Ranked as the fifth-best linebacker transfer in the portal, Trotter will have a strong opportunity to compete for playing time, especially with Mizzou’s linebacker room being a major question mark. Alongside Trotter and Gbayor, it will be interesting to see how Eli Drinkwitz continues to build his defense.