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Columbia Daily Tribune
Missouri football freshman DE Williams Nwaneri reportedly transferring to Nebraska
- Story byColumbia Daily Tribune
- Missouri football freshman DE Williams Nwaneri reportedly transferring to Nebraska
Missouri football's top-ranked recruit in the Class of 2024 is moving on after just one season and four appearances for the Tigers.
Williams Nwaneri, a former five-star defensive end and the No. 8-overall prospect in his recruiting class, is transferring to Nebraska, per a report Thursday from On3's Hayes Fawcett. Per reports, Nwaneri entered the transfer portal on Monday with a "do not contact" tag, which indicates his decision for his next college stop was already settled.
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That appears to be Nebraska, where his high school head coach, Jamar Mozee, is on the staff as a senior assistant. Matt Rhule currently coaches the Cornhuskers .
Nwaneri made waves when he committed to the Tigers out of Lee's Summit North High near Kansas City in August 2023 as the top-ranked defensive lineman in his class. He pledged to MU over a stern challenge from Oklahoma.
But his stint in CoMo was brief.
Nwaneri did not consistently crack the rotation despite multiple injuries impacting the Tigers' depth in 2024.
More: Recruiting, homecoming, idle week timing: Takeaways from Missouri football's 2025 schedule
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More: Missouri football live transfer portal news: Tracking who joins, leaves Mizzou in portal
He appeared in four games, which means he preserves a redshirt and four years of college eligibility. He took 38 snaps as a Tiger, with a bulk of them coming in second-half relief appearances in blowout wins over Murray State and UMass. He played three snaps vs. Auburn, where he registered a pressure, and played five snaps against South Carolina.
With Nwaneri out of the picture and another defensive end following, Mizzou's depth is quickly thinning.
Oct 12, 2024; Amherst, Massachusetts, USA; Missouri Tigers defensive end Williams Nwaneri (6) in action against Massachusetts Minutemen offensive lineman Brayden Rohme (63) during the second half at Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images
Fellow freshman defensive end Jaylen Brown confirmed to the Tribune on Wednesday that he intends to enter the transfer portal. Senior edge rushers Johnny Walker Jr. and Moore both will run out of eligibility at the end of the season.
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That means Mizzou can return four defensive ends with college experience next season: Zion Young; Smith; Jakhai Lang; and Eddie Kelly Jr.
Missouri signed two edge rushers in its Class of 2025, including No. 42-overall national prospect Javion Hilson, who will be an early enrollee and arrive on campus in January.
The Tigers are likely to seek out a defensive end in the transfer portal. Missouri has extended an offer to Kansas freshman Deshawn Warner, who was a four-star pledge in the Class of 2024. The Tribune reached out to Warner to see if he has scheduled a visit to Columbia, but has not yet received a response.
Nwaneri is the first player to officially transfer out of the Tigers' program in the December portal window.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri football DE Williams Nwaneri reportedly to transfer to Nebraska
