After losing three players to the transfer portal on Monday afternoon, Missouri football coach Eli Drinkwitz finds himself with just two remaining members from his 2021 recruiting class.
Tight end Ryan Hoerstkamp, defensive lineman Ky Montgomery, and running back Michael Cox have all entered the transfer portal, as reported by 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz. This departure leaves center Connor Tollison and defensive back Daylan Carnell as the sole survivors from Missouri’s original 23-man recruiting class in 2021.
None of the three players who entered the portal managed to secure significant playing time during their tenure at Missouri. Hoerstkamp saw action in 11 games across three seasons, with none in 2023. Montgomery redshirted his freshman year and did not play in the subsequent seasons. Cox, the most experienced of the trio, appeared in 19 games but recorded only 196 rushing yards.
This recent development adds to Missouri’s exodus to the transfer portal, with a total of 19 players from the 2023 roster now seeking opportunities elsewhere.
While Drinkwitz has had notable success with high school recruits like cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. and wide receiver Luther Burden III, the departure of a significant portion of the 2021 recruiting class underscores the impact of transfers in today’s college football landscape.
During the past season, a substantial portion of Missouri’s offensive and defensive production came from transfer players. Nearly 60% of the team’s offensive yardage was contributed by transfers, including running back Cody Schrader from Truman State. On defense, almost half of the tackles were made by former transfers such as Ty’Ron Hopper, Chuck Hicks, and Joseph Charleston.
With Missouri’s 2024 transfer class ranked 10th in the nation according to On3.com, Drinkwitz’s reliance on transfer talent continues to shape the team’s roster composition and performance trajectory.
