Key departures and additions for Mizzou opponents: Mississippi State
We're three weeks away from SEC Media Days in Dallas. With the offseason slowly but surely winding down, there’s still enough time to talk about the acquisitions and departures Missouri's 2024 (and 2025) conference opponents have made.
Next up is Mississippi State, which is Missouri's seventh conference opponent. The two teams will match up in Week 13 on Nov. 23.
Last season's record: 5-7
Key departures: DB Decamerion Richardson, DT Jaden Crumedy, LB Nathaniel Watson, QB Will Rogers, RB Jo'Quavious Marks, TE Jacarius Clayton, DB DeCarlos Nicholson, WR Zavion Thomas, QB Mike Wright
Key additions: OL Makylan Pounders, DL Anthony Johnson, WR Kevin Coleman Jr., LB Stone Blanton, QB Blake Shapen, WR Kelly Akharaiyi, WR Trent Hudson, RB Davon Booth
Key departures
After two consecutive seasons over .500, the Bulldogs fell to 5-7 last year. This fall, they will try to become bowl eligible again this time under new head coach Jeff Lebby, but they will have to do it without several key players from a year ago.
Richardson, Crumedy and Watson were all drafted in the NFL Draft this past April with Richardson going in the fourth round to the Raiders, and Crumedy and Watson going in the sixth round to the Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns, respectively.
Mississippi State will be without Rogers for the first time since 2019. Rogers, the 50th overall transfer, is the Bulldogs' all-time leader in pass completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns. Last season, he completed 59.9% of his passes for 1,626 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions in eight games. He will be Jedd Fisch's new quarterback at Washington.
Marks led the team in rushing with 573 yards and four touchdowns on 121 carries (4.7 yards per carry) in 2023. The 105th overall transfer also had 23 receptions for 167 yards and two touchdowns. He transferred to Southern California.
Nicholson, the 457th overall transfer, recorded 42 tackles, two tackles for loss and two pass deflections last year before joining Marks at Southern California.
Thomas was the team's second-leading receiver with 40 receptions for 503 yards and a touchdown last year. The 530th overall transfer went to LSU this offseason.
Wright, the former Vanderbilt Commodore, leaves his second SEC school after completing 56.5% of his passes for 453 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions in 12 games a year ago. The 699th overall transfer also recorded 324 yards and three touchdowns. He transferred to Northwestern this offseason.
Key additions
Pounders is the team's highest-rated incoming transfer at No. 206 overall. He played in six games (started two) at left tackle for Memphis last year.
Johnson, the 243rd overall transfer from Illinois, had 25 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and four sacks in 2023.
Coleman was Louisville's third-leading receiver with 26 receptions for 362 yards and three touchdowns last season. He is ranked as the 289th overall transfer.
Blanton, the 304th overall transfer, racked up 52 tackles, a tackle for loss, a sack, three pass deflections, a forced fumble and an interception returned for a touchdown last season for South Carolina.
Shapen played in eight games for Baylor in 2023 and recorded 2,188 yards 13 touchdowns and three interceptions. The former Baylor Bear is the 306th overall transfer.
Akharaiyi, the 341st overall transfer, led UTEP in all three major receiving statistical categories with 46 receptions for 1,033 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023.
Hudson was New Mexico State's second-leading receiver with 36 receptions for 571 yards and a team-high 10 touchdowns in 14 games last year. He's ranked as the 703rd overall transfer.
Booth, the 711th overall transfer, led Utah State in rushing with 805 yards and six touchdowns on 120 carries (6.7 yards per carry) in 12 games a year ago.
Overall, the Bulldogs took a major hit losing Rogers but acquired some quality depth, particularly at wide receiver.
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