With the addition of Derek Nicholson to the staff, Missouri regained its presence in North Carolina.
The linebackers coach traveled the state this past week and offered Class of 2027 four-star Jalaythan Mayfield. The four-star heard stories of Nicholson's time playing high school football decades ago in North Carolina from Lincolnton (N.C.) High head coach Jaden Angle.
Mayfield appreciated Nicholson making the stop by Lincolnton. Nicholson, a native of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, grew up less than two hours away from Lincolnton.
"It's pretty cool to see someone from our state can go to a place like Missouri and just go there and make an impact," Mayfield. "I could bring the North Carolina type of way, culture or whatever you want to call it, to a further place and have an impact there."
Mayfield impressed the Tigers with a developed frame at 6-foot-1, 225 pounds. The No. 231 recruit in the Rivals250 totaled 109 tackles and 10 sacks during his sophomore season.
Noah Best released a Top 5 of Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Southern Methodist and Texas Tech. The four-star interior offensive lineman, who will officially visit Missouri the weekend of May 30, received four FutureCasts to Oklahoma in the past year.
Spring visitor Rodney Colton Jr. named Missouri to his Top 11 on Friday. The Tigers joined Colorado, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Mississippi, Penn State, Southern Methodist, Tennessee, UCLA and Virginia Tech as the linebacker's top interests.
Colton, a former South Carolina commit, received an in-home visit from linebackers coach Derek Nicholson in January. The Class of 2026 four-star scheduled an official visit with Missouri for June 6-8, but Florida State replaced that weekend. Colton is looking to reschedule.
Defensive line coach Al Davis stopped by St. Louis (Mo.) De Smet this past week, where top target Titan Davis is enrolled. Titan, a four-star defensive end, has the in-state Tigers in his top group, but he has not announced an official visit date.
Missouri has stayed more in contact with the De Smet staff. There's a contingent of underclassmen targets developing within the St. Louis program, including Tigers legacy Ridge Janes, the only other current De Smet player with an offer from Missouri.
Admiring cornerbacks coach Al Pogue's honest and upfront approach, Derwin Fields picked up an offer from Missouri on Wednesday. The Class of 2027 Brookhaven (Miss.) High product impressed the Tigers with his dominant play at edge defender.
Ohio transfer defensive lineman Bralen Henderson will arrive for a visit to Missouri on Sunday and depart Tuesday, his agent, Ali Barnes, told MizzouToday. Henderson totaled 24 tackles and one sack last season for the Bobcats.
Towering over his Texas competition at 6-foot-8, 345 pounds, Jai'storm Knight will be an offensive tackle high on recruiting boards in the future, and Missouri defensive assistant Brian Hamilton got the Class of 2028 lineman on the Tigers' board with an offer Friday.
Knight, a mentally advanced freshman with strong finishing skills at Converse (Tex.) Judson, loved to hear about recent NFL draftee Armand Membou. The journey from being ranked a three-star to being the second offensive lineman selected stuck with Knight.
"It made me feel like there is hope at anytime," Knight said. "I feel like Mizzou develops players into not only great players but great people."
Safeties coach Jacob Yoro offered Class of 2027 offensive lineman Will Slagle on Thursday. In a run-heavy offense at Grinnell (Iowa) High, the 6-foot-4, 295-pound lineman assumed he impressed the Tigers with his run-blocking film.
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