Mizzou grabs another defensive end for 10th transfer portal addition
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz has made a clear effort to bolster his defense for the 2025 season, as seven of his 10 transfer portal pickups will benefit defensive coordinator Corey Batoon.
On Saturday, Drinkwitz secured the latest signature in his Top-15 transfer class, as former Appalachian State defensive end Nate Johnson committed to Mizzou. He's the second defensive end to join the 2025 group, after former Michigan EDGE Dominick Giudice landed on Mizzou on Friday.
Johnson will come to Columbia after two seasons with Mountaineers. He really grabbed attention in his true freshman season, when he racked up 43 tackles, nine tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, a pass defended and a forced fumble. Although his production did take a bit of a hit during his sophomore campaign, Johnson still tallied 34 total tackles, four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
After that freshman campaign, Johnson was named a First-Team All-American by the Athletic and made the All-Sun Belt Second-Team.
Johnson is a continuation of the Appalachian State to Mizzou pipeline. Drinkwitz, who coached at App State before coming MU, just grabbed former Mountaineers running back Nate Noel out of the transfer portal, ahead of the 2024 season.
You can find a full look at Drinkwitz's 2025 transfer class below.
- Defensive end Nate Johnson (Appalachian State)
- Defensive end Dominick Giudice (Michigan)
- Safety Mose Phillips III (Virginia Tech)
- Safety Santana Banner (Northern Illinois University)
- Linebacker Mikai Gbayor (Nebraska)
- Linebacker Josiah Trotter (West Virginia)
- Defensive lineman Langden Kitchen (Northwest Missouri State)
- Wide receiver Kevin Coleman (Mississippi State)
- Running back Ahmad Hardy (University of Louisiana-Monroe)
