After a tumultuous offseason marked by the transfer portal shaking up rosters across college football, the Missouri Tigers received a significant boost for their 2026 campaign. The program confirmed that running back Jamal Roberts, offensive tackle Cayden Green, linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez, and wide receiver Donovan Olugbade will all return next season.
Roberts, who tallied 753 rushing yards and six touchdowns on 124 carries in 2025, will reunite with All-American Ahmad Hardy to form one of the nation’s most dynamic backfields. The pair is expected to play a pivotal role under new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey, providing both explosiveness and reliability in the Tigers’ ground game.
On the offensive line, junior All-SEC left tackle Cayden Green will return to Columbia. A standout from Lee’s Summit North, Green allowed only two sacks throughout the 2025 season and is viewed as an eventual NFL prospect. Missouri will still need to replace key linemen, including senior center Connor Tollison and grad transfer Keagen Trost, who exhausted their eligibility.
Sophomore linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez, a highly touted recruit from Florida, will continue to develop his role in the Tigers’ defense after seeing increased playing time throughout the 2025 season. His return raises hopes that he can team with All-SEC sophomore Josiah Trotter—whose future remains undecided—to form a formidable linebacker duo.
Wide receiver Donovan Olugbade will also return, providing much-needed depth in the passing game after the departures of Kevin Coleman, Joshua Manning, and Marquis Johnson. Olugbade, who made several highlight-reel catches as a freshman in 2025, is expected to be a key playmaker for Missouri’s offense in 2026.
The Tigers did, however, lose quarterback Beau Pribula, who announced his transfer after one season. Despite this, Missouri fans can take solace in the return of these foundational contributors as the program looks to navigate a season filled with both challenges and potential.
