The Missouri Tigers football team strengthened its secondary significantly on Sunday with the reported transfer of UNLV safety Jalen Catalon. Catalon becomes the fourth defensive back and third safety to join Missouri through the transfer portal this offseason. He is considered a three-star transfer, ranking No. 243 overall and No. 12 among safeties in the portal.
In 2024, Catalon had one of his most productive seasons, recording 96 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, five interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown), four passes defended, and one forced fumble. His efforts helped lead the Rebels to an 11-3 record, and he was named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, which honors the nation’s top defensive back.
Catalon, a four-star recruit from Mansfield Legacy High School in Texas, originally signed with Arkansas in 2019. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound safety spent four seasons with the Razorbacks, playing significant roles in two of them after redshirting his first year.
In 2020, the COVID-impacted season, Catalon played 10 games, starting nine, and had a career-high 99 tackles, two tackles for loss, and three interceptions. That season earned him semifinalist honors for the Jim Thorpe Award and a spot on the All-SEC first team.
In 2022, Catalon was sidelined by injury, playing in just one game, and then transferred to Texas. At Texas, he played in eight games, starting four, and registered 17 tackles and one tackle for loss. He transferred to UNLV after his lone season with the Longhorns.
Catalon has one season of eligibility remaining and joins fellow safeties Daylan Carnell and Marvin Burks Jr. at Mizzou. The Tigers have also added safeties Santana Banner from Northern Illinois and Mose Phillips from Virginia Tech through the portal. Catalon is expected to start alongside Carnell and Burks Jr., while Flagg, Greco, Phillips, and Banner will provide depth. Catalon’s return to the SEC adds to a strong Mizzou transfer portal class, which now includes 15 commits and is ranked No. 10 nationally by 247Sports.
