Safety Jaylon Carlies has decided to declare early for the NFL Draft, becoming the second Missouri Tiger to do so since the Cotton Bowl win over Ohio State. Carlies, who committed to Barry Odom and signed with the Tigers in the Class of 2020, played in all 49 games of his career at Missouri, starting 37 of 39 games over his final three seasons. He had an impressive career, finishing with 221 tackles, nine interceptions, 17 passes defended, three sacks, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery.
Despite the option to return for another season due to the 2020 season not counting against eligibility, Carlies has chosen to go pro. This decision, along with cornerback Ennis Rakestraw’s early draft entry, means that Missouri will need to replace a significant portion of its starting secondary in 2024.
Kris Abrams-Draine is also expected to declare for the draft. However, some players like Chuck Hicks, Joseph Charleston, and Mookie Cooper have announced their return for the 2024 season. Other players with eligibility left, such as Theo Wease, Kristian Williams, Abrams-Draine, and Ty’Ron Hopper, are still deciding.
In addition to the departures of players due to early draft entries, Mizzou is losing several others who are out of eligibility, including Javon Foster, Xavier Delgado, Cody Schrader, Darius Robinson, and Jayden Jernigan. The team is actively reshaping its roster for the 2024 season, having added seven players through the transfer portal and seeing 11 transfer out. The transfer portal will remain open through January 2, providing further opportunities for roster adjustments.
