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5 young Missouri football players who can make big impression in Gator Bowl
- Story byColumbia Daily Tribune
- 5 young Missouri football players who can make big impression in Gator Bowl
Eli Drinkwitz made sure to let everyone know the bowl game won't be a tryout.
Missouri football is set to take on ACC regular-season champion Virginia in the Gator Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 27 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Tigers expect a bulk of their seniors to play, which means the team shouldn't be unrecognizable from the one that took the field in the regular season.
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"This isn't a practice game," Drinkwitz said. "This is a game that we're both trying to win, and we're trying to win. So, if you don't earn the opportunity to help us win in practice, then this ain't tryouts. You know, this isn't a preseason game. This is a game against the ACC regular-season champion. If somebody can help us win, they'll get to play. But this ain't a participation trophy. So, if the young guy earns it in practice, he'll get to play. If he doesn't, he won't."
Still, need is somewhat of a must right now. Some new faces are about to enter the fray.
So far, nine Missouri football players have announced an intention to enter the transfer portal in January, including starters and key rotation members like quarterback Beau Pribula and wide receivers Joshua Manning and Marquis Johnson. Those players will not participate in the bowl game.
Two more Mizzou starters, middle linebacker Josiah Trotter and tight end Brett Norfleet, will miss the matchup with injuries.
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Mizzou also has not yet made a decision on whether starting defensive end Zion Young will play after a December arrest on suspicion of driving while under the influence.
So, there are some spots Mizzou needs to fill. It's not a tryout, but there is opportunity.
Here are five players we think could impress, and perhaps even stake a starting claim, in the Gator Bowl this year:
Matt Zollers, quarterback
This almost goes without saying, but this is a good chance for Zollers to prove he's the man for the job.
With Pribula heading back to the portal, the Tigers have a choice to make: Roll with Zollers as QB1, or chase a starter in the January portal window.
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Zollers started two games for the Tigers, struggling in a loss to then-high-flying Texas A&M and then starting strong in a win over Mississippi State. He showed some of the arm talent that has the staff so excited for his future, but he made some freshman mistakes and clearly still needs some development to be an SEC starter.
Drinkwitz has called Zollers the future of Missouri at the quarterback position, and a good day against the Cavaliers could bring that future forward.
More: Matt Zollers, big-name transfer or other for Missouri football at QB?
More: Options Missouri football could explore at QB in transfer portal
Nov 15, 2025; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback Matt Zollers (5) throws a pass against the Mississippi State Bulldogs during the first half of the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images
DaMarion Fowlkes, wide receiver
Mizzou is still expected to play Kevin Coleman Jr. in the slot for his final game with Mizzou, and freshman standout Donovan Olugbode will get his shot to show he's among MU's most talented returners.
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But without the portal-bound duo of Johnson and Manning, the Tigers are down two of their top four wide receivers.
We'd expect Logan Muckey and Xavier Loyd, in their last collegiate games, to take some reps at outside receiver in this game, but some snaps could head to Fowlkes, a freshman who featured in the return game for the Tigers.
Fowlkes returned seven kicks for 186 yards and three punts for 29 yards as a rookie.
Daeden Hopkins, defensive end
There are all sorts of questions about availability at defensive end. Young's status is unclear. Fellow starter Damon Wilson II just countersued Georgia over an NIL dispute, and he also has an NFL decision to make soon. Freshman backup Javion Hilson is headed to the portal.
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Hopkins had some tremendous performances in open portions of practice in fall camp. The Hermann, Missouri, native is long at 6-foot-6 and appears to have impressed the coaching staff in his first year.
The defensive end preserved a redshirt by only appearing in four games this season, and bowl games no longer count toward redshirt eligibility.
That means if Hopkins takes some rotational reps behind the likes of Darris Smith and Langden Kitchen against Virginia, he will still have four remaining years of eligibility.
Jeremiah Beasley, middle linebacker
With Trotter out, there's an opening at middle linebacker. Mizzou primarily runs a four-man rotation at the position, and Nicholas Rodriguez should retain a starting spot alongside soon-to-be-graduates Khalil Jacobs and Triston Newson.
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The fourth spot could go to Beasley, who has been a frequent flyer on Mizzou's special teams units for the past couple seasons.
Beasley is a sophomore and has two years of eligibility remaining. The Tigers need game-ready linebackers for next season, and Beasley and true freshman Dante McClellan appear to be the most likely candidates to compete for playing time.
Cameron Keys, cornerback
Missouri, quite simply, needs to know what it is bringing back at corner in 2026, and in-game reps can help make that clearer.
All three of the cornerbacks who formed Mizzou's primary rotation — more than 90% of the snap share — are graduating after this season. Toriano Pride , Dreyden Norwood and Stephen Hall each will move on.
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Mizzou is going to add a CB in the transfer portal. Probably two.
But it would also help the Tigers know whether they can trust one of their returners to compete for a starting spot next season, and some of the highest praise we've heard for the backups has been for Keys, a Panama City, Florida, native and redshirt freshman.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: 5 Missouri football players who can make big impression in bowl game
