Mizzou veteran defensive tackle resigns for 2026 season
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Mizzou defensive tackle Marquis Gracial is sticking around Columbia for another season. On Thursday, the St. Louis native became eighth Tiger to resign with head coach Eli Drinkwitz and company for the 2026 campaign.
Gracial joins fellow defensive tackle Jalen Marshall, linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez and a slew of offensive standouts on the list of returners. You can find that full list below.
- Quarterback Matt Zollers
- Running back Ahmad Hardy
- Running back Jamal Roberts
- Linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez
- Defensive tackle Jalen Marshall
- Offensive lineman Cayden Green (per On3 reports)
- Wide receiver Donovan Olugbode
- Defensive tackle Marquis Gracial
Gracial will return for his redshirt junior season, after seeing action in all 12 regular-season games in 2025, earning five starts. Through the regular-season and MU's bowl game against Virginia, the defensive tackle ended the year with 16 total tackles, eight of which were solo. He also added on a forced fumble in the game against Kansas
Over the years, Coach Drinkwitz has steadily increased Gracial's production. 2025 was his second season seeing action in all 13 games, after getting limited reps through the 2023 and 2022 campaigns.
He came to Columbia as a consensus four-star prospect from St. Charles High School, rated No. 118 in the nation by Rivals.com and No. 142 by 247sports.com.
