Mizzou’s footprint in the NFL is a big one again this week, with 29 former Tigers on league rosters and six more names added in the 2026 NFL Draft. The headliners from that class were second-rounders Zion Young, taken 45th overall by the Baltimore Ravens, and Josiah Trotter, who went 46th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The draft haul kept rolling from there. Chris McClellan came off the board in the third round at No. 77 to the Green Bay Packers, and Keagen Trost followed in the third round at No. 93 to the LA Rams.
Kevin Coleman Jr. landed with the Miami Dolphins at No. 177 in the fifth round, while Toriano Pride Jr. closed it out in the seventh round at No. 220 to the Buffalo Bills. That gave Mizzou six total picks, tying the most in the Drinkwitz era in 2024.
Josiah Trotter wasted no time making his presence felt in the league.
In his NFL debut for Tampa Bay, the linebacker piled up 11 tackles, a sack, two TFL and a 38-yard pick six. The Buccaneers said he became the first player in franchise history to record a pick-six in his NFL debut, and the first in the NFL since 2023. He’s also the only player in NFL history to post a sack and pick six in a debut, and his day marked the first time since TJ Watt in 2017 that a player had a sack, an interception and five-plus tackles in his NFL debut.
Luther Burden III turned in a steady opener for Chicago. The wideout caught five passes on five targets for 63 yards, averaged 12.6 yards per reception and finished with a long of 24 yards. He played 73% of the Bears’ offensive snaps.
Drew Lock opened the season with a clean line for Seattle, completing 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and a touchdown. He also added 13 rushing yards on two carries.
Armand Membou logged every offensive snap at right tackle for the Jets and did not allow a sack. New York ran for 152 yards at 3.9 yards per carry and scored two rushing touchdowns. Geno Smith said the Jets’ pass protection was “outstanding” today and added, “I don't think I got touched at all out there.”
Elsewhere, Isaiah McGuire with Cleveland and Jordan Elliott with Tennessee each finished their season openers with two tackles. Chris McClellan with Green Bay and Darius Robinson with Arizona each had a tackle in Week 1. Harrison Mevis went 1-for-1 on extra-point tries for the Los Angeles Rams.
Mizzou’s current NFL list also stretches across the league, with active players and practice-squad or reserve designations including Darius Robinson with Arizona, Zion Young with Baltimore, Akayleb Evans with Carolina, Luther Burden III with Chicago, Javon Foster with Cincinnati, Isaiah McGuire and Toriano Pride Jr. with Cleveland, Marcellus Johnson with Dallas, Kris Abrams-Draine and Tyler Badie with Denver, Cody Schrader and Johnny Walker with Denver on practice squad, Larry Borom and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. with Detroit, Ty’Ron Hopper and Chris McClellan with Green Bay, Jaylon Carlies with Indianapolis, Nick Bolton with Kansas City, Theo Wease Jr. on the LA Chargers practice squad, Harrison Mevis with the LA Rams, Keagen Trost on the LA Rams reserve list, Kevin Coleman Jr. and Brady Cook with Miami, Marcus Bryant and Khalil Jacobs on reserve lists with New England, Armand Membou with the Jets, Drew Lock with Seattle, Josiah Trotter with Tampa Bay and Jordan Elliott with Tennessee.
In Other News...
Missouris Final SEC Tune Up Could Expose One Lingering Concern
Missouri gets one last nonconference test against Troy before the SEC grind begins, and it is the kind of matchup that can reveal more than the record might suggest. The Tigers have spent the buildup looking closely at Troys offense and the pieces that make it go, with quarterback Goose Crowder operating as a pocket passer and defensive end Donnie Smith giving the visitors a real edge up front.
For Eli Drinkwitz, the game is less about novelty than it is about answering a lingering question before league play starts. Troys scheme should force Missouri to stay sharp on both sides of the ball, and the challenge is clear enough: handle a disciplined passing attack, keep Crowder uncomfortable in the pocket, and avoid leaving the kind of opening that a disruptive edge rusher can turn into a long afternoon. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzous 2-0 Start Suddenly Feels More Real After Kansas Win
Missouris early-season trip to Kansas did more than pad the win column. The 38-21 result pushed the Tigers to 2-0 and offered a clearer look at whats taking shape on both sides of the ball, from Austin Simmons guiding the offense to Chip Lindseys hand in the game plan and a defense that leaned on players like Robert Woodyard Jr., Nicholas Rodriguez and Jahlil Florence to keep control.
For a team trying to prove the opening stretch is more than a warm-up, the details mattered. XaiShaun Edwards added to the balance on offense, while edge rusher Daeden Hopkins helped swing the night with a disruptive play that landed at just the right moment. The bigger question now is whether Missouri can keep that level of execution when the schedule gets less forgiving. [Read more 🡒]
Mizzou's Ground Game Suddenly Has A Problem Fans Didn't Expect
Missouris ground game came into 2026 with momentum after being one of the programs most productive areas a year ago, but the early returns have been far less steady. Injuries have forced the Tigers to lean on backup Jamal Roberts and a deeper cast of less experienced runners, while a revamped offensive line has had to sort out its run-blocking responsibilities on the fly. For a team that wanted to keep its identity anchored on the ground, the timing of the issues has made the adjustment more noticeable.
Eli Drinkwitz has already pointed to problems with the outside zone scheme and said the line needs better coordination, which is usually code for a group still learning how to move together. The bigger concern now is whether Missouri can settle those pieces quickly enough to keep the run game from slipping further, especially with the backfield depth chart already under strain and no easy fix waiting in the wings. [Read more 🡒]