Two Missouri football standouts have announced they're running it back in 2025.
Starting hybrid-linebacker/safety Daylan Carnell and Music City Bowl standout wide receiver Marquis Johnson confirmed via their respective X accounts Tuesday that they will return to play for Mizzou next season. The Tigers just finished their 2024 season with a 27-24 win over Iowa on Monday in Nashville, Tennessee.
"1 more time," Carnell posted to X. "Let's do it."
"I will not be going anywhere," Johnson wrote. "I'm staying (at Mizzou)."
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Carnell, if he wanted, could have entered his name into the 2025 NFL Draft, and likely would have had a good chance at hearing his name called in the April event.
In 13 starts this season, Carnell had five tackles for loss as part of 51 total tackles. He has now played 43 career games, which will make him the most experienced returner on defense on the 2025 roster. The Indianapolis native led the Tigers with seven pass breakups from the hybrid 'star' position, and forced two fumbles, recovering one.
Mizzou is losing three key pieces at safety this offseason, as Joseph Charleston, Tre'Vez Johnson and Sidney Williams Sr. each have exhausted their eligibility.
The Tigers added Northern Illinois transfer Santana Banner and Virginia Tech transfer Mose Phillips III out of the transfer portal, signed East St. Louis four-star prospect Charles Bass III and can return Caleb Flagg, Trajen Greco and Jackson Hancock at safety.
Johnson just completed his sophomore season, meaning he is not eligible for the draft and he was widely expected to return. But, since Mizzou just played its bowl game, the transfer portal is now back open for five days for MU players who elect to enter their name into the database.
The wide receiver, who caught seven passes for 122 yards and a touchdown for a career-day in the Music City Bowl, is now officially coming back.
Johnson mostly played behind Luther Burden III , Theo Wease Jr. and Mookie Cooper this year, often appearing as an option for the Tigers to stretch the field because of his speed. All three of the Tigers' starters are either moving on to the NFL Draft proceedings or are out of eligibility.
As a freshman in the 2023 season, Johnson was responsible for some of the most explosive plays of the Tigers' season. He caught 13 passes for 383 yards and three touchdowns, meaning his average catch traveled 29.5 yards. Injuries limited his 2024 production somewhat, but he finished his sophomore campaign with third on the team with 25 catches for 352 yards and a bowl-game score.
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The Tigers have brought in Mississippi State transfer Kevin Coleman Jr. to plug the role of slot receiver. Johnson and fellow rising junior Joshua Manning appear to be the front-runners for the other starting roles.
Mizzou also is currently expected to return Daniel Blood and James Madison II next year, and true freshmen Donovan Olugbode, Shaun Terry and DaMarion Fowlkes have signed as part of the Class of 2025.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Star Missouri football safety, Music City Bowl standout to return in 2025
