Mizzou football makes a couple of defensive additions out of the portal
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
As the Mizzou football team works to replace some key starters on the defensive side, Tiger head coach Eli Drinkwitz signed a couple of new additions out of the portal on Monday. Former Nebraska linebacker Mikai Gbayor and former Northern Illinois safety Santana Banner are set to come to Columbia.
Gbayor, a junior, will come to Columbia after four seasons in Lincoln. In 2024, the New Jersey native tallied a career-high 49 total tackles, six tackles for loss, one sack, three pass breakups and a couple of fumble recoveries. He played in ever game in his junior campaign, with 11 starts.
The signing of Gbayor comes at a good time for Coach Drinkwitz, as starters Triston Newson, Corey Flagg Jr. and Chuck Hicks are both out of eligibility and will move on to the next stage of their careers. Gbayor will join a linebacker room that includes returners Nicholas Rodriguez and Khalil Jacobs.
Gbayor entered college as a three-star recruit in the 2021 recruiting class.
ABC 17 was also able to confirm the report from PowerMizzou.com that Banner is set to transfer to Mizzou, as well.
The former Northern Illinois safety played in 11 games for Huskies in 2024, when he recorded one interception, 30 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, four passes defended and one forced fumble.
Banner picked MU after also taking visits to Georgia Tech and Cincinnati.
