So it begins.
Missouri football made its first transfer portal splash of the spring window, landing SMU transfer offensive lineman Marcus Bryant on Wednesday, the player announced via his X account. Bryant started at left tackle for the Mustangs, which might indicate some reshuffling along MU's line.
Landing a player who could play the offensive guard position was a priority for the Mizzou staff entering this portal window. The staff, on multiple occasions throughout the Tigers' spring camp, said that there was an open competition at right guard, and that they were potentially going to turn to the portal to bolster the position.
Missouri's starting right guard from the 2023 campaign, Cam'Ron Johnson, moved over to his more natural position at left guard during spring. Oklahoma transfer Cayden Green took reps beside him at left tackle. Armand Membou and Connor Tollison look likely to retain their starting roles at right tackle and center, respectively.
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That leaves right guard, where Kansas City product Logan Reichert, Mitchell Walters, Curtis Peagler and others were competing for starting honors.
Green provides position flexibility along the offensive line for Missouri. He played left guard for the Sooners.
If Bryant steps into a starting role at tackle, it's possible Green moves over to one of the guard positions, with a potential to play alongside Membou, his high school teammate at Lee's Summit North in Kansas City.
Bryant shapes up to be a veteran addition to the big men up front. The Round Rock, Texas, native has played in 42 games over the past four seasons at SMU, making 29 starts. He was an All-American Athletic Conference first-team selection last season, when the Mustangs went 11-3 and defeated Tulane in the AAC championship.
SMU's two main quarterbacks, Preston Stone (12 appearances) and Kevin Jennings (eight games), combined for 3,815 yards passing, 33 touchdowns and eight interceptions over the course of last season with Bryant in front of them. SMU gave up 47 sacks.
The Mustangs' running game totaled 2,472 yards and 29 touchdowns over the course of 14 games.
Bryant, who is listed a 6 foot 8, 318 pounds, has one year of eligibility remaining.
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This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football bolsters offensive line with All-AAC first-team tackle
