Mizzou is reportedly getting a key lineman back for next season.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel shares that redshirt junior center Connor Tollison informed the Tiger staff of his plans to return. Tollison was considered a top prospect for the NFL Draft before suffering a knee injury in the Oklahoma game.

The Tollison news isn’t a huge surprise to those who have been following coach Eli Drinkwitz on the situation. Two weeks ago, Drinkwitz expressed confidence in Tollison’s return.

“I know he’ll bounce back. I know we’ll get him back for next year,” Drinkwitz said when announcing Tollison was out for the remainder of the 2024 campaign.

Tollison, listed at 6-4, 290 pounds on the 2024 roster, stepped into a starting role in 2022 as a redshirt freshman. He started all 13 games of the 2023 campaign. He’ll enter 2025, his final season of eligibility, with 34 career starts to his name.

Mizzou, without Tollison, will cap the 2024 regular season against Arkansas. The Tigers have the chance to pick up a 9th win and boost their postseason stock.