Mizzou football resigns two critical pieces for 2026 season

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz is returning two key starters for the 2026 season.

On Thursday, the Tigers announced that running back Jamal Roberts and linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez have both resigned deals with the team.

Roberts will return for his redshirt junior season, after his best season yet in the black and gold. Through 12 regular-season games and the bowl, the St. Louis native ran for 753 yards and six touchdowns on 124 carries as a part of one of the Top-10 run games in the nation in 2025. Roberts and consensus All-American running back Ahmad Hardy provided a one-two punch in the backfield for MU all season, averaging 228.3 yards per game on the ground.

Coach Drinkwitz made it clear, at the end of the season, that resigning Roberts was one of his biggest priorities, adding that, in addition to Hardy, he's one of the best backs in the nation.

Rodriguez is also coming off of his best season at Mizzou.

The true sophomore played in every game this season and drew his first start of his career against UMass on Sept. 27. In total, he ended the 2025 campaign second on the team with 61 total tackles, 27 of which were solo. He also tallied 4.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and seven passes defended.

His return in 2026 will be big for Coach Drinkwitz's squad, as both veteran linebackers Triston Newson and Khalil Jacobs are set to graduate and step into their next chapter.

Roberts and Rodriguez join the likes of Hardy, who also resigned with the squad for 2026.