About 3 weeks ago, Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz announced that offensive lineman J’Marion Gooch was medically disqualified to play for the Tigers. Now he has entered the transfer portal and evaluating things on a personal level.

Gooch is well-known in SEC circles as he was a 3-star player in the class of 2021, and the 6-8, 360-pound lineman played high school football in Tennessee before he committed to Missouri. He committed to Auburn in April 2020 before he flipped to the Vols to sign in December. After Tennessee fired Jeremy Pruitt in January, Gooch was granted a release from his National Letter of Intent, and he signed with Missouri, Knox News reported.

In a message on social media, Gooch shared his reasons for stepping away and into the transfer portal.

“2020 thru 2021 was a lot for me . I had to take a break from it all to figure things out Mentally. I will have a son born in February 2022 Thru GOD, College and Football I feel I’ll be able to support my family. This is for my Son, Moms and Pops.”