Some promising new faces are approaching their first camp in Colombia.
In just over two months, Missouri football will kick off its 2024 season with a game against Murray State on Thursday, Aug. 29, at Memorial Stadium in Columbia. The new campaign brings high hopes, as the Tigers have what appears to be a good opportunity to make the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff.
Mizzou has reloaded with some eye-catching portal signings, with 15 new players on campus. A significant part of the top-30 offense from offensive coordinator Kirby Moore’s first year as a playcaller at Columbia is back for more. The timeline, on paper, looks favorable.
The Tigers also signed a top-20 recruiting class for the 2024 cycle, with 21 players signing their letters of intent. Seven true freshmen signed up early, meaning they made it through spring camp, but most of the signing class will get their first taste of college football when MU players report for camp in late July.
So who among the first-year players could help Mizzou on the field in 2024?
Here are five freshmen who could have the biggest impact, based on a combination of recruit quality and position need, on the Tigers’ 2024 season:
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Jaren Sensabaugh and Cameron Keys help Missouri football depth at CB
There are reps up for grabs at cornerback in Columbia.
Ennis Rakestraw Jr., a second-round pick of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, and Kris Abrams-Draine, a fifth-round pick by the Denver Broncos, are leaving for pastures new, leaving both starting cornerback roles open.
Could one of Missouri’s recruited cornerbacks — Cameron Keys and Jaren Sensabaugh — claim some playing time? Both were top-30 recruits at their positions in their classes, according to rankings from recruiting service 247Sports.
Dreyden Norwood appears to have secured a starting role in MU’s secondary, while Clemson transfer and East St. Louis product Toriano Pride Jr. is the favorite to fill the other spot.
Booking reps, however, are wide open. Marcus Clarke has played primarily as a substitute over the past two seasons. Ja’Mariyon Wayne, Shamar McNeil and Nicholas DeLoach have earned praise from their coach, Al Pogue, but have yet to truly be battle-tested.
Keys was an early enrollee and made it through spring camp – an instant advantage. Sensabaugh shows tremendous open-field tackling ability on tape and appears to have good ball skills, having spent time as a wide receiver in high school.
Whoever leaves in the fall will get the job, and that could very well be one of the young newcomers.
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Williams Nwaneri, defensive end
The five-star recruit is more likely to have an on-field role to play as the Tigers pursue a CFP berth.
Williams Nwaneri, the No. 1 defensive line prospect in his class in the 247Sports rankings, was Missouri’s signature in this class. The Lee’s Summit North Kansas City product looks college-ready at 6-foot-2 and 257 pounds.
However, the edge rusher will have stiff competition for reps. Johnny Walker Jr. was the Cotton Bowl’s defensive MVP, and Mizzou replenished the reps missed by first-round NFL Draft pick Darius Robinson with Power-conference portal additions Darris Smith and Zion Young.
Joe Moore III impressed new MU defensive backs coach Brian Early during the spring, but fellow 2023 backup Austin Firestone retired from football after spring camp. That likely opens the door to some instant playing opportunities for Nwaneri — and, perhaps, the Tigers’ other recruits at the position, four-star prospects Jaylen Brown and Elias Williams.
“I’m excited to get my hands on them,” Early said during spring camp. “I wouldn’t be shocked if one or two of them (weren’t) able to help us this fall, just from what I’ve seen on high school tape.”
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Nicholas Rodriguez and Brian Huff, linebackers
Similar to cornerback, some edge turnover opened up some opportunities.
Nicholas Rodriguez and Brian Huff were both four-star recruits and head into their first college fall camp with little set in stone ahead.
Chuck Hicks and Triston Newson started during the Tigers’ Cotton Bowl victory over Ohio State, replacing injured Ty’Ron Hopper and Chad Bailey. Hopper was then chosen in the third round of the draft and Bailey exhausted his eligibility. During the offseason, Missouri landed commitments from Miami transfer Corey Flagg Jr. and South Alabama transfer Khalil Jacobs.
The competition at linebacker will likely be one of the most open in the fall. Returnees and transfers will likely be the most likely to take the reins, but don’t rule out newcomers.
“Both of those guys are elite players,” Drinkwitz said after the first national signing day last December. “Both of those guys are going to come in and be able to contribute and find a role, whether it’s through special teams (or on defense). They both have great size and instincts (and) work well. I am very excited about Nick’s leadership capabilities.”
This article originally appeared in the Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football freshmen who could make the biggest impact in 2024
