One among Missouri soccer’s most promising, completed additions of the switch portal landed Tuesday, Jan. 20.
Mizzou has signed Ole Miss beginning cornerback Chris Graves Jr., who appeared in all 15 video games for the Rebels of their run to the School Soccer Playoff semifinals final season. Graves visited Missouri on Saturday.
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The information that he has dedicated to the Tigers was first reported by Pete Nakos and Hayes Fawcett at On3. It has since been reposted by Austin Simmons, Missouri’s new quarterback and a former teammate of Graves at Ole Miss.
Graves performed greater than 1,000 snaps at nook over three seasons in Oxford, Mississippi. He moved right into a beginning function in the beginning of the 2025 season and was a near-mainstay on the Rebels’ protection all through the season.
He completed the 2025 season with three cross breakups and a pressured fumble. In 399 protection snaps, in response to Professional Soccer Focus, he was focused within the passing sport 35 instances however allowed solely 18 catches, which is a 51.4% completion fee.
PFF’s protection accountability project is just not at all times excellent, however the analytics web site charted the nook for permitting 4 catches of 30 or extra yards.
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Graves nearly definitely will instantly contend for a beginning function within the Mizzou secondary.
Cornerback was a serious place of want for the Tigers on this switch portal window. The three gamers who performed the vast majority of Mizzou’s cornerback snaps this season — Dreyden Norwood, Toriano Pleasure Jr. and Stephen Corridor mixed for 90% of MU’s snap share — are all of eligibility.
That left Mizzou missing expertise on the place. Some depth items entered the portal, and solely two gamers with any collegiate enjoying expertise, Cameron Keys and Nicholas DeLoach Jr., had been eligible to return.
Missouri’s first portal signing was Oregon nook Jahlil Florence, who began for the Geese in 2023 however has since handled harm issues. His former Oregon teammate, Sione Laulea, additionally has signed with Mizzou. The Tigers additionally acquired a marquee pickup in Michigan freshman cornerback Elijah Dotson.
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All of these gamers have excessive upside. However Graves has current beginning expertise, which ought to profit the room.
Ole Miss defensive again Chris Graves Jr. (32) and defensive lineman Zxavian Harris (51) have a good time with Ole Miss cheerleaders throughout a university soccer sport between Mississippi State and Ole Miss at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, Miss., on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. Ole Miss defeated Mississippi State 38-19 within the Egg Bowl.
Mizzou has now added 26 gamers out of the switch portal, which closed for entries after Friday, Jan. 16.
That doesn’t imply that there shall be no extra portal motion. The deadline was just for new entries. Gamers who submitted their portal paperwork in time can signal with a brand new faculty basically every time they need.
Extra: The switch portal is closed. What does Missouri soccer nonetheless want?
Extra: Missouri soccer provides inside OL switch from Mississippi State
Mizzou is probably going nonetheless in search of a defensive finish, defensive sort out and broad receiver.
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The cornerback room, which was a prime precedence, seems to be finalized.
This text initially appeared on Columbia Every day Tribune: Missouri soccer indicators Ole Miss beginning nook Chris Graves from portal
