COLUMBIA, Mo. — University of Missouri head football coach Eli Drinkwitz announced Wednesday that 19 student-athletes have signed scholarship-aid agreements to join the Tigers’ program for the 2026 season.
Mizzou’s signing class ranks No. 25 by both On3.com and ESPN and marks the fifth time under Drinkwitz in which the Tigers inked a top-25 recruiting class.
The class includes five offensive linemen, three safeties, two wide receivers, two linebackers, two cornerbacks, one defensive end, one running back, one defensive tackle, one quarterback and one tight end.
A total of 13 states are represented in the group with three from Missouri, three from Florida, two from Illinois, two from Alabama, and one each from Arkansas, California, Iowa, Louisiana, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Texas.
The signing class of 2026 consists of: Brandon Anderson (OL | Orlando, Fla.), Ahmod Billins (CB | Abbeville, Ala.), Jabari Brady (WR | North Lauderdale, Fla.), JJ Bush (LB | Mobile, Ala.), Khalief Canty Jr. (OL | Detroit, Mich.), Braylon Ellison (OL | Booneville, Mo.), Jaxson Gates (CB | Fontana, Calif.), Keenan Harris (LB | St. Louis, Mo.), Devyon Hill-Lomax (WR | Edwardsville, Ill.), Isaac Jensen (TE | Omaha, Neb.), Demarcus Johnson (DE | Roseland, La.), Brody Jones (S | Wynne, Ark.), Johnnie “DJ” Jones (OL | Venice, Fla.), Jayden McGregory (S | Des Moines, Iowa), Tajh Overton (DT | Owasso, Okla.), Gavin Sidwar (QB | Warrington, Pa.), Carter Stewart (S | Missouri City, Texas), Maxwell “Max” Warner (RB | Chicago, Ill.) and Brysen Wessell (OL | Jackson, Mo.).
The group is comprised of 14 players ranked in the top 20 in their respective states with two players ranked nationally in the top 100 by at least one recruiting service.
Anderson, Brady, Bush, Canty Jr., Ellison, Gates, Jensen, Johnson, B. Jones, J. Jones, McGregory, Overton, Sidwar, Stewart and Warner will all enroll in January of 2026.
SIGNING CLASS OF 2025
NAME POS. HT. WT. HOMETOWN HIGH SCHOOL/PERVIOUS SCHOOL
Brandon Anderson OL 6-3 340 Orlando, Fla. North Cobb (Ga.)
Ahmod Billins CB 6-1 165 Abbeville, Ala. Abbeville Christian Academy
Jabari Brady WR 6-1 206 North Lauderdale, Fla. Monarch
JJ Bush LB 6-1 210 Mobile, Ala. Theodore
Khalief Canty Jr. OL 6-4 311 Detroit, Mich. Cass Technical
Braylon Ellison OL 6-3 284 Booneville, Mo. Booneville
Jaxson Gates CB 6-0 169 Fontana, Calif. Damien
Keenan Harris LB 6-0 224 St. Louis, Mo. St. Louis University
Devyon Hill-Lomax WR 6-3 193 Edwardsville, Ill. Edwardsville
Isaac Jensen TE 6-5 231 Omaha, Neb. Millard South
Demarcus Johnson DE 6-6 271 Roseland, La. Fort Bend Marshall (Texas)/Hutchinson (Kan.) CC
Brody Jones S 6-2 181 Wynne, Ark. Fayetteville
Johnnie “DJ” Jones OL 6-6 275 East Bradenton, Fla. Venice
Jayden McGregory S 6-2 195 Des Moines, Iowa Valley
Tajh Overton DT 6-2 270 Owasso, Okla. Owasso
Gavin Sidwar QB 6-2 181 Warrington, Pa. La Salle College
Carter Stewart S 6-0 176 Missouri City, Texas Shadow Creek
Maxwell “Max” Warner RB 5-8 190 Chicago, Ill. Whitney Young
Brysen Wessell OL 6-4 272 Jackson, Mo. Jackson
SIGNEE BIOS
Brandon Anderson
OL, 6-3, 340, Orlando, Fla./North Cobb (Ga.)
A powerful interior offensive line prospect out of North Cobb High School north of Atlanta … a four-star prospect by ESPN who ranks No. 256 in the outlet’s SC Next 300 rankings … ESPN‘s No. 10 interior offensive lineman nationally and the No. 32 player in the state of Georgia … a three-star lineman by Rivals/On3 and 247Sports … 247Sports ranks Anderson as the nation’s No. 34 interior lineman and the No. 48 player in Georgia … the 247Composite has him rated as the No. 478 player nationally, the No. 41 interior lineman and the 52-ranked player in the state … coached by Shane Queen at North Cobb High School in Kennesaw, Georgia … helped lead the North Cobb Warriors to the 6A Region 5 title with a 5-1 record … chose the Tigers over Tennessee, Alabama, North Carolina and Maryland.
Ahmod Billins
DB, 6-1, 165, Abbeville, Ala./Abbeville Christian
Listed as an athlete by most recruiting publications, Billins will play cornerback for the Tigers … a three-star recruit by the national outlets … 247Sports ranks him as the No. 75 athlete nationally and the No. 35 player in Alabama … the 247Composite ranks him as the 64th-ranked athlete and No. 40 player in the state … ESPN rates him as the No. 103 cornerback in the country, No. 45 player in Alabama … Rivals ranks him as the No. 111 corner nationally and the No. 29 player in the state … the Rivals Industry lists him as the 97th-ranked corner and the No. 39 player from Alabama … coached by Matt Mims at Abbeville Christian Academy where Billins plays quarterback and cornerback … led Abbeville Christian to the 2025 AISA AA State Championship, passing for 286 yards and four touchdowns … in 2025, Billins compiled nearly 3,000 all-purpose yards, 85 tackles, 19 TFL, two sacks and two interceptions … he threw for 1,044 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior in 2024 while rushing for another 280 yards and catching 10 passes for 210 yards and two scores … on defense, he added an interceptions, TFL and two pass breakups while returning a fumble for a touchdown … chose Missouri over Tulane, Air Force and Army.
Jabari Brady
WR, 6-1, 206, North Lauderdale, Fla./Monarch
A highly-sought after wide receiver prospect out of South Florida … ESPN ranks Brady as a four-star prospect the No. 51 receiver nationally and the No. 52 prospect in Florida … a three-star signee by Rivals and 247Sports … Rivals and 247Sports also rank Brady as the No. 84 receiver nationally and the No. 57 player in the state … the Rivals Industry rankings have him 463rd nationally, the No. 72 wideout and the No. 59 player in Florida … the 247Composite has him 515th nationally, the No. 71 receiver and 65th in the state … selected to play in the 2025 Navy All-American Bowl … Coached by Calvin Davis at Monarch High School … led them to the quarterfinals of the Florida 6A State Playoffs … caught 64 passes for 1,118 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior … as a junior, caught 23 passes for 485 yards and seven touchdowns in seven games … in 2023, hauled in 70 receptions for 1,392 yards and ten scores … caught 43 balls for 864 yards and six TD as a freshman … on the track, owns top marks of 11.23 in the 100, 22.42 in the 200 and 54.49 in the 400 … chose Mizzou over Alabama, Miami, Florida, Ohio State and Georgia.
JJ Bush
LB, 6-1, 210, Mobile, Ala./Theodore
A highly-regarded linebacker prospect who is a consensus four-star prospect in the class of 2026 … the 21st-ranked linebacker nationally according to 247Sports and the No. 13 player in the state of Alabama … No. 374 nationally, the No. 25 linebacker and No. 16 player in the state according to the 247Composite … the Rivals Industry rates him 376th nationally, the No. 23 linebacker and No. 16 player Alabama … Rivals lists him as the No. 22 linebacker and No. 13 player in the state … a three-start prospect by ESPN and the nation’s No. 29 linebacker and No. 17 player in Alabama … selected to the Navy All-American Bowl … Coached by Eric Collier at Theodore High School in Mobile, Alabama … helped lead them to the second round Alabama 6A Playoffs … credited with 69 tackles, 22 tackles for loss and six sacks as a junior in 2024 … also ran for 344 yards and six touchdowns as a junior … was an All-Region selection on the basketball court in 2023-24, scoring 18.9 points per game while grabbing 8.6 rebounds per game … posted a 24.32 in the 200-meter dash and a 20-8 long jump as a junior … chose Mizzou over Arkansas, Miami and LSU.
Khalief Canty Jr.
OL, 6-4, 311, Detroit, Mich./Cass Technical
An impressive prospect on the interior of the offensive line … a three-star prospect with a bevy of scholarship offers from some of the country’s best programs … 247Sports ranked him as the nation’s No. 46 interior offensive lineman and the No. 11 player in the state of Michigan … the 247Composite lists him at No. 59 among interior linemen and No. 14 in the state … 63rd on ESPN‘s rankings of interior linemen and the outlet’s No. 9 player in Michigan … No. 707 in the Rivals Industry rankings, the No. 71 interior offensive linemen and No. 16 in the state … played for head coach Marvin Rushing at Cass Technical High School in Detroit … helped Cass Tech to a runner-up finish in the 2025 Michigan Division 1 State Championship and a 13-1 record … earned Division 1 All-State honors as a junior in 2024 … 2025 MHSFCA Division 1, Region 3 all-district selection … chose Mizzou over Michigan, Michigan State, Alabama, Auburn, North Carolina and Penn State.
Braylon Ellison
OL, 6-3, 284, Boonville, Mo./Boonville
A consensus three-star interior offensive line prospect from right down the road in Booneville, Missouri … Rivals rates him at the No. 38 interior lineman nationally and the No. 7 player in Missouri … 247Sports lists him at No. 57 among IOL and the No. 11 overall player in Missouri … ESPN lists him 60th among interior offensive linemen and No. 9 in the state … the Rivals Industry rates him at No. 619 nationally, the No. 60 IOL and No. 8 player in the state of Missouri … the 247Composite has him 767th nationally, 63rd among all interior offensive linemen and No. 10 in the state … coached by Greg Hough at Boonville High School … led Boonville to the quarterfinals of the Missouri Class 3 State Playoffs … chose Mizzou over Oregon State, Washington State and Arkansas State.
Jaxson Gates
DB, 6-0, 169, Fontana, Calif./Damien
A four-star cornerback prospect with elite speed and cover skills … No. 174 in 247Sports’ Top247 and the outlet’s No. 19 cornerback and No. 17 player in the state of California … Rivals lists him as the No. 22 cornerback and No. 13 player in the state while ESPN ranks him 29th among cornerbacks and No. 17 in the state … the Rivals Industry ranks Gates 397th nationally, the No. 44 cornerback and No. 40 player in the state … the 247Composite has him 298th nationally across all rankings, the No. 34 cornerback and No. 36 player in California … coached by James Stewart at Damien High School in La Verne, California … recorded 31 tackles in nine games as a senior with an interception and a pass breakup … made 30 tackles with six pass breakups as a junior … CIF Southern Section Division 2 silver medalist in the spring of 2025 with a 10.44 100-meter dash time … also ran 22.79 in the 200 meter and 54.41 in the 400 meter … chose Mizzou over BYU, Michigan State, Utah and Mississippi State.
Keenan Harris
LB, 6-1, 210, St. Louis, Mo./St. Louis University High
One of the top ranked recruits in the Show Me State for the 2026 recruiting cycle … tabbed as a three-star prospect and a top five player in Missouri according to 247Sports … No. 33 linebacker in the class and a three-star prospect according to ESPN … named First Team All-MCC after totaling 75 tackles, 8.0 TFL, two forced fumbles and an interception during his senior season at SLUH … set a school record with 355 total tackles during his career … added 46.0 TFL, 7.0 sacks nine forced fumbles, five interceptions and two defensive touchdowns for his career … also contributed 904 all-purpose yards and 17 touchdowns on offense and added a pair of punt return touchdowns during his high school career … four-year varsity starter and two-year team captain … received 2024 MFCA First Team All-State honors in addition to First Team All-MCC, First Team MFCA All-District, First Team SLMFCA All-Metro, Second Team STL Today All-Metro and Second Team St. Louis Post Dispatch All-Metro accolades … chose Mizzou over Oklahoma, Tennessee, Iowa, Ohio State, Oregon, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and others.
Devyon Hill-Lomax
WR, 6-4, 180, Edwardsville, Ill./Edwardsville
A consensus three-star recruit by all major recruiting outlets … Rated as a top 25 player in the state of Illinois by 247Sports (No. 25) and ESPN (No. 20) … 133rd-ranked wide receiver nationally according to Rivals … totaled 672 yards and eight touchdowns, earning Illinois Class 7A All-State honors during his senior season … also played basketball for Edwardsville High … chose Mizzou over Illinois, Iowa State, Kentucky, Purdue and others.
Isaac Jensen
TE, 6-6, 225, Omaha, Neb./Millard South
A consensus three-star recruit by all major recruiting outlets … Rated as the No. 8 player in the state of Nebraska by Rivals … ESPN ranks him as the nation’s No. 21 tight end in the class … totaled 70 receptions for 1,251 receiving yards and 24 touchdowns during his junior and senior seasons, helping Millard South win back-to-back Nebraska Class A state titles … chose Mizzou over Texas A&M, LSU, Auburn, Vanderbilt, Iowa State, Florida State, Nebraska and others
Demarcus Johnson
DE, 6-6, 271, Roseland, La./Fort Bend Marshall (Texas)/Hutchinson (Kan.) CC
Johnson joins the Tigers after two seasons at Hutchinson (Kan.) Junior College … a unanimous four-star prospect No. 1 junior college defensive lineman … second nationally among junior college transfer according to 247SportsJuco and the sites top JUCO player in Texas … No. 2 nationally in ESPN’s JC50 … Rivals lists him as the nation’s No. 1 JUCO prospect … the 247CompositeJUCO rates him No. 1 among all junior college prospects … the Rivals Industry has him as the No. 2 overall JC recruit … was a three-star prospect out of Fort Bend Marshall High School in 2024 … coached by James Williams at Fort Bend Marshall where he registered 39 tackles and two TFL … played for head coach Drew Dallas at Hutchinson CC … only played in one game during the 2025 season, but exploded as a freshman at Hutchinson CC with 29 tackles, 8.5 TFL and four sacks … chose Mizzou over LSU, Houston, Southern California and Mississippi State.
Brody Jones
CB, 6-3, 175, Fayetteville, Ark./Fayetteville
A consensus three-star recruit by all major recruiting outlets … Rated as the No. 6 player from the state of Arkansas and No. 54 cornerback nationally by Rivals … ESPN ranks him as a top 70 player at his position and No. 12 player from his state … recorded over 30 tackles as a senior to go along with a pair of interceptions and a forced fumble … made 35 stops as a junior, including 4.0 TFL and a pair of sacks to go along with three interceptions … was also a member of the Fayetteville track and field team … chose Mizzou over Wisconsin, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Memphis and others.
Johnnie “DJ” Jones
OT, 6-6, 310, Bradenton, Fla./Venice
One of the top offensive line recruits in the country for the 2026 recruiting cycle … A consensus four-star prospect by all major recruiting outlets … 247Sports ranks him as the No. 10 offensive tackle in the country and No. 13 player from the state of Florida … No. 99 in the Top247 … ranked No. 198 overall by Rivals and the outlet’s No. 20 offensive tackle and No. 24 player in the state … ESPN ranks Jones 212th in the ESPN 300 while being listed as the No. 24 tackle and No. 29 player in Florida … helped Venice to a Florida Class 7A State Semifinals berth so far this postseason … chose Mizzou over Georgia, Ole Miss, Florida, Florida State and others.
Jayden McGregory
S, 6-2, 185, West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley
Rated as a four-star prospect by Rivals and ESPN and one of the top players from the state of Iowa … ESPN tabs him as the No. 21 safety in the country and No. 3 player from Iowa … Rivals ranks him as the No. 29 player at his position nationally and the No. 6 player from Iowa … made 15.5 tackles with 10 solos, a tackle for loss and an interception on defense as a senior while helping Valley to an Iowa Class 5A state semifinals appearance … was Valley’s leading receiver on the season with 56 receptions for 765 yards and 13 touchdowns … also returned three kicks for 121 yards (40.3 AVG) … chose Mizzou over Georgia, Nebraska, Minnesota, Louisville and others.
Tajh Overton
DL, 6-3, 275, Owasso, Okla./Owasso
An elite defensive line prospect … rated four-star defensive lineman … ranked as the No. 44 player by ESPN in the Midlands Region … ESPN also lists him as the No. 3 player in Oklahoma and the No. 25 defensive lineman in the nation … 247Sports ranks Overton No. 162 in its Top247, No. 23 among defensive linemen and No. 3 in the state … the Rivals Industry ranks him No. 267 overall, the No. 31 defensive lineman and No. 2 player in Oklahoma … the 247Composite has him No. 305 nationally, the No. 37 DL prospect and No. 3 in the state … Coached by Bill Blankenship at Owasso High School … led the Rams to the Oklahoma 6A-I State title game … has 54 total tackles and 10 tackles for low in 2025 for Owasso … finished sophomore year with 64 tackles, 25 TFL and 5 sacks … named the top player in the state of Oklahoma by Griffin Media Group … Chose Mizzou over Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Florida State and Houston.
Gavin Sidwar
QB, 6-3, 190, Wyndmoor, Pa./La Salle College
Sidwar joins the Tigers after a high-successful high school career at LaSalle College High School in Philadelphia where he displayed excellent arm talent and accuracy … a consensus three-star prospect … ranked the No. 23 QB recruit by ESPN, the No. 16 player in Pennsylvania and the No. 73 prospect in the East Region … 247Sports lists Sidwar as the No. 24 QB nationally and the No. 13 player in the state … Rivals ranks him as the No. 39 QB and the No. 16 player in Pennsylvania … the Rivals Industry rankings list him as the No. 31 QB, the No. 16 player in the state and No. 551 nationally … the 247Composite ranks him No. 475 nationally, the No. 30 QB and No. 13 player in the state … Coached by Brett Gordon at La Salle where he led the Explorers to the Pennsylvania State Championship Game … was an All-State honoree his junior season, compiling for 31 touchdowns and 2,747 yards … named the Huck Plamer PCL MVP … Chose Mizzou over Duke, Maryland, Ole Miss, UCLA and Wake Forrest.
Carter Stewart
S, 6-1, 170, Pearland, Texas/Shadow Creek
Stewart is tabbed as a three-star recruit across all major rankings … ESPN rated Stewart as the 157th safety and the No. 248 player in Texas … listed by 247Sports as the No. 187 at safety and No. 280 in The Lone Star State … Rivals Industry ranks Stewart No. 188 at his position … rated 195th among safeties by 247Composite … a two-sport athlete at Shadow Creek, also running track where as a sophomore, posted a 5-8 high jump, a 19-2 long jump and a 38-11 triple jump in limited reps … saw snaps on both side of the ball as a sophomore, completing 26-of-43 passes for 227 yards and two TDs, while running for 136 yards and three TDs on 3.6 yards per carry … added six tackles and one TFL on defense … recorded 21 tackles, one fumble recovered, and six pass breakups as a junior … Chose Mizzou over Arizona State, Baylor, Maryland, Michigan State, Oklahoma, SMU and Utah.
Maxwell “Max” Warner
RB, 5-10, 185, Chicago, Ill./Whitney Young
A three-star running back from Whitney Young High School in Chicago … listed No. 58 among running backs and the No. 29 in Illinois by 247Sports … tabbed as the 77th-best running back and 35th player out of Illinois in the class by ESPN … Rivals ranks Warner as the No. 124 running back and No. 51 player in the state … listed as the No. 79 among running back and No. 35 from Illinois by Rivals Industry … Rated No. 84 among backs and No. 35 in Illinois by 247Composite … Coached by Daniel Finger at Whitney Young … led the Dolphins with 1,156 rushing yards and 16 TDs in 2025 while also catching 10 passes for another 157 yards and two scores … totaled 518 yards on 107 carries and eight touchdowns his junior season … emerged as a dual threat in 2024, securing 10 receiving touchdowns with 187 yards … as a sophomore he rushed for 206 yards and one touchdown on 31 carries, and added a receiving touchdown … also competes in track and field, and set a personal best of 22.65 in the 200m dash, 22-6 in the long jump and 45-1 in the triple jump … chose Mizzou over Ole Miss., Minnesota, Illinois, Purdue, Wisconsin, Boston College.
Brysen Wessell
DL, 6-5, 260, Jackson, Mo./Jackson
A three-star prospect who was a multi-sport athlete at Jackson High School … the Missouri native is the No. 40 defensive line prospect by Rivals and the outlet’s No. 8 player in the state of Missouri … the No. 90 defensive line prospect and the No. 10 player in Missouri according to 247Sports … ESPN ranks him 93rd among defensive linemen and No. 10 in the state … rated No. 677 nationally, No. 78 among defensive linemen and No. 9 on the state by 247Composite … No. 625 nationally in the Rivals Industry while ranking No. 61 among defensive linemen … a 2025 Missouri 6A All-State selection in football … a three-sport athlete in high school, also competing in track and field and wrestling … finished fourth at the 2025 Missouri Class 5 Wresting Championships to earn All-State honors in wrestling … ninth at the 2025 MSHSAA Class 5 State Championships with a 163-0 personal best in the discus … Also set a personal best of 43-1.5 in the shot put in the spring of 2025 … selected as the Cash-Book Journal 2025 Male Athlete of the Year … chose Mizzou over Washington State, Wake Forest and Iowa State.
