Missouri is still deep into fall camp, but a few freshmen are already forcing their way into the conversation.
With the Tigers nearing the end of their second week of practice and only five workouts left before they shift into game-week prep for the Thursday, Sept. 3 opener against UABP in Columbia, a handful of newcomers have made early impressions that are hard to ignore. Mizzou brought in 22 players in its 2026 high school class, and three in particular have stood out enough to look like real candidates to see the field sooner than expected.
Jayden McGregory appears closest to a role right away. The four-star safety from West Des Moines, Iowa, has been running with the second-team defense throughout camp, which puts him firmly in the mix for a rotational spot this season.
The Tigers’ safety picture is starting to take shape, with Santana Banner and Trajen Greco lined up to start at free safety and rover safety, while Auburn transfer Kensley Louidor-Faustin and Elijah Dotson look set to rotate at STAR. That still leaves snaps available, and McGregory, sophomore CJ Bass II, and Notre Dame transfer JaDon Blair have been working for them.
At 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds, McGregory already looks built for the college game, and he’s the freshman on this list most likely to land in the two-deep.
Jaxson Gates is another first-year player who has made enough noise to stay on the radar. The cornerback from La Verne, California, checks in at 6-foot and 185 pounds, which is 16 pounds heavier than his listed high school weight.
That added bulk matters when the assignment is SEC receivers. Missouri’s corner rotation may be close to settled with Chris Graves Jr., Jahlil Florence, Sione Laulea, and Nick DeLoach Jr., but Gates has still been taking multiple reps with the second-team defense.
The four-star recruit, ranked by 247Sports among the top 200 players at any position in his class, has a tougher climb than McGregory, especially with three transfers in the mix, but he could still carve out a role on special teams and during the early part of the nonconference schedule.
On the offensive side, Khalief Canty Jr. has been one of camp’s biggest surprises. The 6-4, 315-pound guard from Detroit has been handling backup reps at right guard behind Curtis Peagler, which is a strong sign for a freshman who signed as a three-star prospect last December.
247Sports ranked him as the No. 49 interior offensive lineman in the class, and his offer sheet included Alabama, Penn State, Michigan and Michigan State. Missouri still figures to have Tristan Wilson or Zack Owens fill the backup interior role behind the left guard competition, but Canty is clearly ahead of schedule.
The Tigers should see him during their home nonconference games, and with four starting offensive linemen potentially moving on after this season, the path is there for him to build toward a bigger job.
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