Just before the college football transfer portal slammed shut for new entries, Missouri made a final push - and landed a pair of intriguing additions on both sides of the ball.
First up: CJ May, a freshman defensive end transferring in from Louisville. May didn’t see the field in his first year with the Cardinals, but don’t let that fool you - the talent is very real.
A former four-star recruit out of Highland Home, Alabama, May brings a long, athletic frame at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, and he’ll arrive in Columbia with four full years of eligibility. That’s a rare combination of upside and runway.
He becomes the third defensive end Missouri has reeled in through the portal this cycle, joining Florida State’s Jaden Jones and Houston’s Cavan Tuley. Jones has flashed high-end potential, while Tuley has carved out his niche as a special teams contributor.
With both of last season’s starting edge rushers - Damon Wilson II and Zion Young - departing, the Tigers are clearly reloading on the edge. Wilson is already in the portal, and Young is widely projected as a top-100 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Add in the exits of rotational pieces Nate Johnson (to Auburn) and Javion Hilson (to Virginia Tech), and the urgency to restock the defensive front makes perfect sense.
On the other side of the ball - or rather, the other side of the roster - Missouri added a key piece to its special teams unit with the commitment of punter Mark Shenouda from Tennessee State. Shenouda is taking a big leap from the FCS to the SEC, but his leg certainly looks ready for the jump.
Over the past two seasons, Shenouda has averaged 41.8 yards per punt on 102 attempts. Last year alone, he bumped that number up to 42.9 yards per punt, dropped 16 kicks inside the 20, and launched 12 punts of 50 yards or more.
The highlight? An eye-popping 82-yard bomb against UT Martin - the longest punt at any level of Division I football last season.
His addition comes at a critical time. Missouri is losing its primary punter, Connor Weselman, to graduation.
Weselman averaged 41.8 yards per punt in 2025, which ranked last among SEC punters. Shenouda’s arrival, along with the earlier addition of Florida State kicker/punter Brunno Reus, signals a clear intent by the Tigers to upgrade their special teams consistency and field position game.
While the portal is now closed for new entries, teams can still sign players who are already in the portal - and Missouri isn’t likely done just yet. But with May and Shenouda in the fold, the Tigers have already taken meaningful steps to address key areas of need as they gear up for what’s shaping up to be a pivotal 2026 campaign.