Mizzou adds productive defensive lineman via transfer portal
By David Wasson
Published:
The Missouri Tigers have taken on a late transfer portal addition, as former Northern Illinois defensive lineman Mark Hensley is reportedly headed to Columbia.
ESPN reported Saturday that Hensley is taking his talents to Mizzou as the 28th player to utilize the transfer portal toward CoMo. An interior defensive lineman, Hensley recorded 32 tackles, 5 tackles for loss and 1 sack last season at Northern Illinois.
As native of Labadie, the move is a homecoming of sorts for Hensley. And his addition is another in a series of changes Mizzou engineered in its defensive line room – as the Tigers are undergoing a significant rebuilding phase to replace all four starters from the previous year.
Key players expected to lead the Tigers’ defensive line include edge rushers Malik Bryant, Daryus Smith, and Dayden Hopkins, along with interior linemen Marquis Gracial and Jalen Marshall.
The Tigers went 8-5 overall and 4-4 in conference play in 2025 amid a challenging schedule that saw all five losses come to ranked teams – including four ranked SEC programs and No. 19 Virginia in the Gator Bowl.
Mizzou begins the 2026 season on Sept. 5 at home against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. The Tigers play at Kansas on Sept. 12 and at home Sept. 19 against Troy before beginning the SEC slate Sept. 26 at Mississippi State.
An APSE national award-winning writer and editor, David Wasson has almost four decades of experience in the print journalism business in Florida and Alabama. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and several national magazines and websites. His Twitter handle: @JustDWasson.
