3 true freshmen who could contribute to Mizzou football in 2025
IMG Academy senior Donovan Olugbode (1) battles East 51ºÚÁÏ senior Charles Bass (0) during a football game on October 25, 2024 at East 51ºÚÁÏ High School in East 51ºÚÁÏ, Ill.Â
Paul Halfacre
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri football has entered its “production over potential†era, as coach Eli Drinkwitz labeled the shift during a winter transfer window that saw some of the program’s most heralded prospects depart.
Along with hopes of playoff contention, the 2024 season dawned with hope for a talented freshman class. Youngsters like Williams Nwaneri, Kewan Lacy, Courtney Crutchfield and Jaylen Brown had enough recruiting stars to seem like potential immediate contributors.
Join Mizzou beat writer Eli Hoff for his live chat
Bring your Tigers football, basketball and recruiting questions, and talk to Eli Hoff in a live chat Thursday. The timing of this week's chat will shift a little bit, with Eli answering most questions in the afternoon, a little later than usual. Submit your questions at your leisure and check back later today for his responses!
Top high school football recruit from Missouri to earn millions in Miami NIL deal
Five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell, considered one of the top prospects in the 2026 recruiting class, said Tuesday that he will attend the University of Miami, giving the Canes one of their biggest recruiting wins of the Mario Cristobal era.
Cantwell — who announced his commitment at a news conference at Nixa (Missouri) High — visited Georgia over the weekend after previous visits to Miami, Oregon and Ohio State. Those four schools were considered the finalists and had their hats on the table when Cantwell made his decision in the Nixa High gymnasium on Tuesday. Ducks coaches reportedly came to his high school to meet with him again on Monday.
Nixa junior Jackson Cantwell (79) makes the block during the Class 6 football championship game at Memorial Stadium on the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo. Paul Halfacre, 51ºÚÁÏ
Post-Dispatch photographers capture hundreds of images each week; here's a glimpse at the week of May 4, 2025. Video edited by Jenna Jones.
ESPN standalone streaming will cost $29.99 a month, start in September
NEW YORK — ESPN said Tuesday that its new all-encompassing streaming service will take on a familiar name — ESPN — and launch in September at an initial price of $29.99 per month.
The service will enable consumers to view all of ESPN's various networks, including ones devoted to the SEC, Big Ten and ACC college leagues, as well as content from the current ESPN+ streaming service, which will be folded in to the new product.
Mizzou's Tamar Bates invited to NBA draft combine; star-studded rosters set for alumni game
Missouri guard Tamar Bates (2) looks for room for a shot attempt during a game against Lindenwood at Mizzou Arena on Nov. 27, 2024, in Columbia, Mo.
Paul Halfacre, Post-Dispatch
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Former Missouri men’s basketball guard Tamar Bates is one step closer toward playing his way into the NBA.
Bates was among the best performers at the NBA G League Elite Camp over the weekend, a second-tier pre-draft scouting event, and in doing so earned himself an invite to the main NBA draft combine, which starts Wednesday in Chicago.
Mizzou guard Caleb Grill hugs head coach Dennis Gates on Saturday, March 8, 2025, after coming out the game against Kentucky at Mizzou Arena in Columbia, Mo.
What makes Mizzou's 2025 QB battle different from past ones for Eli Drinkwitz
COLUMBIA, Mo. — After going nigh on two decades without one, quarterback battles are in vogue for Missouri football. A relatively clear lineage that ran from Brad Smith to Chase Daniel to Blaine Gabbert to James Franklin to Maty Mauk to Drew Lock has seen much more competition since Eli Drinkwitz became the Tigers’ coach ahead of the 2020 season.
Now, heading into his sixth season at Mizzou, he’s staging the fourth quarterback competition of his MU tenure. Penn State transfer Beau Pribula is battling perennial piece of potential Sam Horn for the QB1 title.
Missouri quarterback Sam Horn throws the ball during practice on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at the Mizzou Athletics Training Complex in Columbia.
'Gotta get a team': How new Mizzou women's hoops coach Kellie Harper has built 1st roster
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Before she completed her move to Columbia, new Missouri women’s basketball coach Kellie Harper knew she needed to get moving — with building her first roster, that is.
“People have asked me, ‘Have you found a house?’ †Harper told the Post-Dispatch last week. “No. Look, I gotta get a team first. Let me get my team, let me get my roster done, and then we’ll find somewhere to live.â€
Former Tennessee head coach Kellie Harper yells to her players in the first half of a first-round game against 51ºÚÁÏ University in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, March 18, 2023, in Knoxville, Tenn. Harper is now the head coach at Missouri.
Mizzou men's hoops moves David 'Dickey' Nutt back to assistant role after beating cancer
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri men’s basketball’s final assistant coach opening is going to a familiar face.
David “Dickey†Nutt will reprise his role as one of the Tigers’ assistant coaches after spending the past year working for the program in a different capacity as he successfully fought cancer.
Missouri head coach Dennis Gates, right, talks with assistant coach Dickey Nutt during the first half of a game against Southern Indiana on Monday, Nov. 7, 2022, in Columbia, Mo.
After 'production over potential' winter, Mizzou football uses spring portal to add depth
COLUMBIA, Mo. — So closes the portal window of depth.
Missouri football has likely wrapped up its business in the spring transfer portal window, with just a couple of open spots left and its priorities largely covered.