When you think of elite cornerbacks, names like Deion Sanders, Charles Woodson, and Champ Bailey probably come to mind. Legends who combined size, speed, and swagger to dominate the position.
For a more recent generation, Richard Sherman fits that mold - tall, physical, cerebral, and unafraid to let you know it. That rare blend of traits doesn’t come around often, but Missouri might have just landed someone with a similar blueprint.
Enter Sione Laulea.
One of two Oregon transfers to land in Columbia this offseason, Laulea has the kind of physical profile that jumps off the screen. He’s 6-foot-4, 196 pounds - a skyscraper by cornerback standards - and he’s got the athleticism to match. Long, rangy, and fluid, Laulea looks like the kind of player you build a secondary around, especially in a conference like the SEC where receivers are big, fast, and relentless.
Now, let’s be clear - projecting talent is one thing, translating it is another. Laulea didn’t see a ton of game action in Eugene, logging just 116 snaps in 2025.
But when he was on the field, the performance was solid. Pro Football Focus graded him out at a 77 overall, including a 76.7 in coverage.
That’s not just promising - that’s the kind of production that makes you take notice, especially when it comes in limited reps. In 2024, his grades were even better in fewer opportunities, suggesting that the tools have been there for a while.
So why wasn’t he a bigger part of Oregon’s plans? That’s tough to pin down.
The Ducks were deep at corner last season, and sometimes it’s just about fit or coaching preference. But the bottom line is this: Laulea has NFL-caliber measurables, and now he’s got a fresh opportunity to put it all together in a system that could let him shine.
Where He Fits at Mizzou
Missouri’s secondary needed help - badly. Between graduations and departures, the Tigers were thin on proven talent at corner.
Laulea doesn’t just fill a roster spot; he brings a potential solution. His length and athleticism make him a natural fit in defensive coordinator Corey Batoon’s scheme, which thrives on press coverage and aggressive play at the line of scrimmage.
Laulea’s size gives him an immediate edge in matchups against taller SEC receivers, and his coverage instincts - though still developing - are already showing flashes of high-level potential.
The one knock? Tackling.
It’s not a strength yet, and that’s something the coaching staff will need to clean up. But that’s a teachable trait, especially when the raw tools are this good.
When We’ll See Him
The expectation? Early and often.
Laulea isn’t walking into a guaranteed starting role, but the path to playing time is wide open. Missouri added a handful of defensive backs in the portal, but no one with Laulea’s combination of size and upside.
Even if he doesn’t lock down a starting job right away, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where he isn’t rotating in from Week 1. Whether it’s on the boundary or in sub-packages, he’s going to get his shot.
And if he clicks? Look out. This could be one of those transfers we look back on as a turning point for Mizzou’s defense.
What This Means for Missouri
Let’s not sugarcoat it - the Tigers had a major hole in the secondary, and they didn’t just need bodies. They needed playmakers.
SEC-level athletes. Guys who could hang with the best receivers in the country and not blink.
Laulea checks those boxes. He’s not a finished product, but he’s got a high floor and a ceiling that could make NFL scouts take notice.
This is the kind of pickup that doesn’t just fill a need - it raises the bar. If Laulea develops the way Missouri hopes, he could be a tone-setter for a defense that’s quietly building something special under Batoon. And in a league where every inch matters, having a 6’4” corner who can run with anyone is a luxury most programs would kill for.
Keep an eye on No. 1 this fall. Sione Laulea might just be the next name you think of when someone says “cornerback.”