For Mizzou football, the 2025 season will represent a period of transition, both on the field and within the locker room.
Key figures like Brady Cook and Luther Burden, who were central to the team’s success in the past two 10-win seasons, have moved on, along with several other veteran players. In their place, a new wave of recruits and transfer portal additions is coming in to fill the gaps. While the coaching staff remains largely unchanged, the player lineup is seeing significant shifts. While new talent arrives to take over on the field, one of the most significant challenges will be replacing the leadership and camaraderie that the departing veterans brought to the locker room.
College football has always been about succession—whether it’s quarterbacks like Brad Smith to Chase Daniel to Blaine Gabbert, or defensive stars like Michael Sam and Kony Ealy making way for Markus Golden and Shane Ray. This dynamic has become even more pronounced in the era of the transfer portal, with constant roster changes. For instance, when Dominic Lovett left, Theo Wease stepped in, and in just one season, a defensive line could be rebuilt. However, these roster changes often don’t capture the intangible aspects of leadership and culture, which remain critical to maintaining a winning program.
Mizzou fans can easily recognize the talent lost over the past two seasons by looking at NFL rosters, but this group of veteran players also possessed exceptional leadership, a quality that’s much harder to replace than athletic ability alone. Darius Robinson was an exceptional personality and leader, while Cody Schrader was known for his unmatched work ethic. Kris Abrams-Draine and Ennis Rakestraw set a physical tone in the secondary, and Theo Wease did the same for the wide receiver group. Brady Cook was a defining player for the Tigers, not just because of his performance on the field but due to his incredible leadership and determination.
As the 2025 season arrives, new leaders will need to emerge from the current roster, with no returning captains from the past two seasons. Veteran players like Connor Tollison, Chris McClellan, Daylan Carnell, Dreyden Norwood, and Zion Young are natural candidates to step up, while younger players like Jamal Roberts, Speedy Johnson, Marvin Burks, Brett Norfleet, and Cayden Green may also take on more vocal roles. Coach Eli Drinkwitz made smart moves in the transfer portal, bringing in players with strong leadership qualities. Beau Pribula, for example, is known for his leadership at Penn State, while Josiah Trotter comes from a football family. Other transfers like Stephen Hall, Mikai Gbayor, and Jalen Catalon bring experience as team captains, and young recruits like Ahmad Hardy and Santana Banner have already shown leadership potential.
As Mizzou moves into a new era of roster turnover, the focus isn’t just on replacing stats, but also on finding leaders who can continue the culture of winning. Drinkwitz and his coaching staff have worked hard to bring in players who can step into leadership roles, ensuring the foundation of a successful program continues.
