Missouri has long been a destination for standout defensive linemen to come and hone their craft, and the Eli Drinkwitz era has carried that banner well.
With Zion Young set to be drafted soon and names like Darius Robinson and Isaiah McGuire having found their way to the NFL in recent years as well, it’s safe to say that transfer-portal prospects have begun to take notice of the Tigers’ pedigree up front.
RELATED: Sports betting is live in the Show Me State! Check out SDS for all the latest Missouri sportsbook promos!
And that reputation likely played a large factor in the commitment of a key prospect Sunday, as Florida State’s Jaden Jones pledged to play for Mizzou, per ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg’s report.
Jones arrived in Tallahassee following a standout junior college career at Hutchinson C. C. in Kansas, but he was rarely able to crack the rotation with the Seminoles.
The Montgomery, Alabama native appeared in five games during FSU’s undefeated 2023 campaign, recording a pair of tackles and a QB hurry.
Jones missed all of the 2024 campaign while recovering from an offseason injury, but he finally saw some meaningful playing time in 2025. The 6-foot-5 pass-rusher played in all of Florida State’s games and started three times, with him having racked up 7 tackles, a tackle for loss and a pass breakup.
With Young’s departure and other portal moves creating some space in the Mizzou D-line room, Jones could step in and carve out a sizable role for himself as he looks to showcase his full potential in Columbia.
Parker is currently the sports editor for the Enterprise-Journal in McComb, Mississippi. He's a graduate from Mizzou who has experience covering the Tiger football and basketball beats for SB Nation, and he's worked for a variety of sports news outlets in the past.
