Last week featured a mixture of wins and losses on the recruiting trail for the Tigers .
Missouri football landed four players between Monday and Sunday. Three-star running back Maxwell Warner, three-star wide receiver, three-star offensive lineman Khalief Canty Jr., and, to round out the week, four-star offensive lineman Brandon Anderson committed to the Tigers.
Head coach Eli Drinkwitz and company also missed out on a handful of targets, with four-star offensive lineman Evan Goodwin committing to SMU, four-star defensive lineman Danny Beale pledging to Oklahoma State, four-star wide receiver Jayden Petit heading to Wisconsin, and one-time MU defensive line commit — and re-recruiting target — Anthony Kennedy Jr. choosing Miami.
As the calendar flips to July, the upcoming couple of weeks could define the Tigers' 2026 class.
As it stands, the Tigers hold the No. 76-ranked Class of 2026 in the country, per the recruiting service 247Sports' national team rankings. That's wedged between Toledo and Oregon State on the leaderboard.
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There are a number of possible reasons, including an increased focus on the transfer portal over high school, but that's still much lower than Mizzou's recruiting norm in the Drinkwitz era.
It's also not where MU's Class of 2026 will end up. The Tigers consistently have had top-25 recruiting classes under Drinkwitz. A bulk of their next high school class — likely to be around 15 players — could come in the next 10 days.
Eight Mizzou targets will announce their college commitments over the next 10 days. Here are names and dates to keep an eye on:
247Sports composite ranking:No. 1,422
Position ranking (IOL):No. 117
It would be a surprise to see the Boonville prospect go anywhere other than Mizzou. Ellison's father, Attiyah Ellison, played for the Tigers from 2001-04 and is MU's current director of player and alumni relations. His older brother, Tyson Ellison, was a walk-on for the team last year.
Ellison, a three-star prospect listed at 6 foot 4, 285 pounds, would bring the Tigers up to three O-Lineman in this cycle, all of whom are expected to play on the interior.
247Sports composite ranking:No. 493
Position ranking (LB):No. 35
The Theodore, Alabama, product will make his choice between Mizzou, LSU, Arkansas and Cincinnati — and it seems to be a race between the SEC schools at this point. Bush is rated a three-star prospect in 247Sports' composite rankings but as a four-star talent in their own rankings.
The linebacker, listed at 6-3, 210, officially visited Mizzou back in May and has taken other trips since then.
247Sports composite ranking:No. 747
Position ranking (S):No. 65
Will there be another reason for fireworks?
Forney, a 5-11, 185, safety out of Marietta, Georgia, will choose between Mizzou, Wisconsin, Georgia, Auburn and Pittsburgh on the Fourth.
247Sports composite ranking:No. 439
Position ranking (DT):No. 49
Mizzou is in atypical recruiting waters here, as Harris comes from Chandler, Arizona. The Tigers are dueling with California and in-state Arizona for the three-star DT's commitment.
MU was somewhat late to offer Harris, with his official offer coming in mid-May. Landing the 6-3, 290 tackle would be a significant win for the Tigers in mostly unfamiliar territory.
247Sports composite ranking:No. 300
Position ranking (LB):No. 20
This is perhaps the least likely player to pick Mizzou on this list. It's an all-SEC race, with Auburn and Kentucky also vying for Balogoun-Ali's commitment. Auburn is viewed as the favorite to land the Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, prospect's pledge.
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247Sports composite ranking:No. 399
Position ranking (ATH):No. 24
McGregory is listed as an athlete but is expected to play as a safety at the collegiate level. He will choose between the Tigers, Louisville and Minnesota, and the West Des Moines, Iowa, product has received a crystal ball prediction from 247Sports to land with MU. He did, however, seem to dispute that on his X account. He is a four-star prospect, listed at 6-2, 195.
247Sports composite ranking:No. 956
Position ranking (WR):No. 149
Smith, a Jackson, Tennessee prospect, is expected to play wide receiver, although still listed as an athlete by 247Sports. Mizzou is competing with Arkansas, Tennessee and West Virginia for his commitment.
The Tigers have already received pledges from two wideouts in this class. They may still add another, but that could very well factor into Smith's decision, too.
247Sports composite ranking:No. 631
Position ranking (S):No. 49
Combay is a teammate with Forney, listed above, at Kell High in Georgia. Tennessee, South Carolina, and Wisconsin appear to be the main competitors for the three-star prospect, who is listed at 6-1, 190.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Commitment dates to know for Missouri football recruiting targets
