Just a day after watching a four-star recruit flip to Arkansas, the Tigers lost their first player to the transfer portal on Tuesday, as a former four-star wide receiver entered his name.
James Madison II, a redshirt freshman, will enter the portal after playing just 19 snaps this season for Missouri according to Matt Zenitz.
Missouri redshirt freshman wide receiver James Madison II is entering the transfer portal, his agents @PrioritySports tell @CBSSports.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 2, 2025
The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder was a Class of 2024 four-star recruit who played at Florida high school powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas. pic.twitter.com/OmzIhan5p1
Missouri sees first big loss to the portal in receiver James Madison II
The 6-foot-3, 210-pound receiver was a top receiver recruit in the 2024 class, but never found playtime over the past two seasons. Last year, he was buried behind future NFL player Luther Burden and a deep receiving corps. In 2025, he couldn't find any footing either, appearing in just three games without recording a reception.
Madison was a four-star recruit out of Florida's St. Thomas Aquinas, and his 6-foot-8 wingspan was a tantalizing trait for head coach Eli Drinkwitz to work with. Unfortunately, Madison wasn't able to carve out a role with the Tigers in his two seasons. The local product will end his brief time in Columbia without a recording an offensive touch.
While the passing game certainly had its struggles this year, Madison's transfer is more likely a product of behind buried on the depth chart. It's definitely easy to blame the Tigers' issues at quarterback, but this transfer seems like a player simply looking to get some more playing time. He'll now look to find a school where he can see the field more than he would have with the Tigers.