Missouri’s starting wide receiver group looks nearly locked in for the 2026 season, but the real intrigue sits behind them. That’s where redshirt freshman Naeshaun Montgomery enters the picture, and why he stands out as one of the Tigers’ most promising developmental pieces.
Head coach Eli Drinkwitz mentioned four wideouts outside the projected starting group at SEC Media Days: Montgomery, Kenric Lanier II, Shaun Terry II and DaMarion Fowlkes. Terry and Fowlkes already have familiarity with the system, while Lanier brings three years of college experience from Minnesota. Even so, Montgomery carries the highest ceiling of the group.
That upside starts with his recruiting profile. Montgomery was a consensus four-star prospect and the No. 12 wide receiver in the class. He drew attention from major programs including Miami, Ole Miss, Ohio State and Penn State before committing to Florida.
His time with the Gators was limited, but it gave him a year to develop. Montgomery used his redshirt season after appearing in the maximum four games allowed, and he logged 37 snaps overall. He also saw the field in two SEC games, against Ole Miss and Kentucky.
What makes him so intriguing is the package he brings. Montgomery reportedly ran a 4.4 40-yard dash per New Era Prep, and he pairs that speed with strong hands and flexibility as a route runner. He’s listed at 6-foot-1 and 189 pounds, so there’s room to add more size, but he already has enough to work with.
That profile gives Missouri a chance to build him into the top backup at wide receiver. And the setting around him matters. Montgomery is entering a room with three receivers who each offer something different, which should help his growth.
Cayden Lee brings SEC experience. Donovan Olugbode offers versatility at 6-foot-2.
Caleb Goodie brings pure speed. Goodie is described as even faster than Montgomery, though he checks in at 6-foot-1 and 178 pounds.
Montgomery may wind up as Goodie’s backup, and that could be the perfect landing spot for now. It would let him flash the speed and skill set that made him such a highly regarded recruit in the first place.
There’s not much glaring weakness in Montgomery’s game, which is part of the appeal. If he absorbs what Missouri’s other receivers have to offer, his snap count could rise this season, and the path to a starting role next year would be right there in front of him.
In Other News...
Finebaum Just Reopened Missouris Biggest Drinkwitz Debate
Eli Drinkwitz has given Missouri plenty to like since taking over in 2020, especially with the programs strong runs in 2023 and 2024. The Tigers have clearly moved forward under his watch, but the conversation around Drinkwitz in Columbia has never been just about progress. It has also been about whether Missouri can turn that progress into the kind of win that changes how the program is viewed nationally.
Paul Finebaums skepticism has only put that old debate back in the spotlight. Missouris 7-19 mark against ranked opponents under Drinkwitz is the kind of number that keeps resurfacing whenever the Tigers are asked to take the next step, and it is the reason every big opportunity still carries extra weight. For all the improvement, the lingering question remains whether Missouri can finally deliver the signature victory that matches the optimism around the program. [Read more 🡒]
Missouri Suddenly Has A Costly Decision On One Of Its Best Players
Mark Mitchells offseason took an unexpected turn after a court ruling opened the door for many four-year college basketball players to seek an additional season of eligibility, and Missouri now finds itself weighing a familiar but costly kind of roster question. The veteran forward has been one of the Tigers most accomplished players, a two-time All-SEC selection whose production and presence made him central to everything Missouri wanted to do last season.
For Missouri, the bigger issue is no longer just what Mitchell meant on the floor, but what keeping him around might require in a suddenly crowded market. With his future now up in the air, the Tigers have to consider both the financial commitment and the roster ripple effects if he stays, while also knowing other programs can make their own pitch. Whether Mitchell ultimately returns or moves on, the uncertainty alone has changed the way Missouri has to plan its next step. [Read more 🡒]