Mizzou gains pledge from top-ranked junior college transfer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The No. 1-ranked prospect at the junior college level is a future Mizzou Tiger.

Head Coach Eli Drinkwitz has acquired a commitment from defensive lineman DeMarcus Johnson, who is considered the nation's highest-ranked junior college player by 247 Sports Composite Rankings.

The Hutchinson Community College product held offers from seven different schools, including LSU, Mississippi State, USC, Houston and more. Of those seven offers, Johnson took visits to both LSU (May 30) and Mizzou (June 20).

The 6-foot-8, 260-pound talent registered 29 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, one forced fumble and two pass breakups over 10 games last season, helping guide the Blue Dragons to an 11-1 overall record.

Johnson joins MU's 2026 recruiting class, which features 11 pledges. All its prospects are rated as three-star commits, according to 247 Sports.