The Battle of the Best Five: Mizzou’s OL Still Holds Questions

Less than three weeks away from its first game of the season, Mizzou has many positions locked and loaded ahead of the 2025 season. Two things aren’t for certain: The starting QB spot and the offensive line.

Sam Horn and Beau Pribula are in a battle of their own, but Missouri brought on four new transfers on the O-line in hopes of replacing starters like Armand Membou and Marcus Bryant, who were drafted in the 2025 NFL Draft.

While some of the offensive line might already be set in Eli Drinkwitz’s head, he’s made it clear how the battle is still in the air. A position that has been a known question mark ahead of this season is left tackle.

“We’re still trying to figure out the best five,” Drinkwitz said to media on Saturday.

Two starters are for certain:

Connor Tollison

Tollison enters his fifth year with Mizzou and his fourth year starting under center. On Nov. 26, Tollison made the decision to come back for his final year of eligibility instead of testing his luck in the NFL Draft. I’d guess Tollison will be one of the captains on this new-look offense Missouri. He was also one of three Tigers that went to SEC Media Days.

As one of the longest tenured Tigers on the roster, and the longest tenured offensive lineman, Tollison has been key in helping the transfers adjust.

“(He’s got) tons of experience,” Michigan transfer Dominick Giudice said. “Just being able to learn as much as I can from him.”

The Jackson High School product suffered a season-ending knee injury during Mizzou’s ninth game of the season during 2024 and will look to bounce back.

“Connor knows what he’s doing at all times,” Green said of his center. “He helps us all get on the same page.”

Because of his injury, Tollison has been strategically held out of various practices by Drinkwitz, resulting in numerous different players getting opportunities with the first team. (I’ll get back to this)

After Tollison did not play in the team’s second scrimmage of the fall camp, Drinkwitz said this.

“It’s just a precautionary head coach decision,” the coach said. “Tollison has played four years as a starter, I didn’t feel like it was worth the risk.”

Cayden Green

Green comes into the 2025 season with all eyes on him. Entering his second season with the Tigers, after spending one season with the Oklahoma Sooners, Green has made numerous preseason All-SEC teams and was also named to the 50-player preseason watchlist for the Outland Trophy, which goes to college football’s best interior lineman.

Green will likely take his talents to the NFL when the season comes to an end.

“Cayden’s one of the hardest workers I’ve been around,” Giudice said. “He holds people accountable and is a great leader.”

The Lee Summit North product started all 13 games at left guard for Mizzou in 2024. Tollison and Green helped the offense accumulate 2,138 rushing and 2,926 passing yards as well as 26 rushing TDs.

While Green is expected to start at left guard this upcoming season for the Tigers, during practice on Monday he made his first ever public appearance taking his first team reps at left tackle. I would guess this isn’t a good sign. This likely means that Drinkwitz isn’t feeling very confident about the left tackle situation.

While it’s still up in the air whether Green starts at left guard or left tackle, one thing is for certain: He’ll be a big key to Mizzou’s offense this season.

Two more players are almost locks to make Mizzou’s Week 1 starting lineup:

Keagan Trost

On Dec. 20, 2024, Trost announced that he would be transferring to Mizzou from Wake Forest after spending one season in North Carolina. The 6’4 tackle started all 12 games in his lone season with the Deacons. Trost spent 2021-23 with Indiana State.

Trost is expected to start at right tackle with the Tigers this season and has had the spot pinned down for some time now. Despite movement across the offensive line during practice this week, Trost has stayed put.

Trost has built some strong friendships with teammates on his line like Curtis Peagler since arriving.

“It’s been amazing,” Peagler said when asked what it was like having Trost as a teammate. “Him teaching me techniques and learning how to be an offensive lineman and continuing to grow my game.”

The Kankakee, Illinois native will hope to make a splash in the SEC during his final year of eligibility.

Dominick Giudice

Giudice was another player the Tigers added through the portal this offseason. Giudice announced he was moving to Columbia from Ann Arbor, Michigan on the same day as Trost’s announcement: Dec. 20, 2024.

The Freehold, New Jersey native was a four-year letterwinner at Michigan (2021–24) and three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, appeared in 18 games with five starts at center and guard after beginning his career on the defensive line, helping the Wolverines to a 23-5 record and the 2023 national championship over his final two seasons.

Giudice said his time on the defensive side of the ball helps him now as he navigates the offensive trenches.

“It’s been pretty beneficial,” Giudice said. “Playing offensive line with a defensive lineman mentality, being on the attack and not reacting. I think it’s big.”

Giudice was taking reps early in camp at the right guard position, but with the potential move of Green to right tackle, things have been shifting. On Monday, the former Wolverine was taking first team reps at left guard.

It’s safe to say Giudice has earned himself a spot in the starting lineup, it’s just a matter of whether that is at left guard or right guard.

Finally, here are three players vying for the final spot:

Curtis Peagler

Peagler, despite only having played in three career games, has a lot of experience with Mizzou football and he has been in Drinkwitz’s system for some time now.

On Monday, Peagler saw first team reps — something that wasn’t fully expected. He slotted in at right guard with the movement of Giudice to left guard.

Despite not getting much of an opportunity in his first three seasons (including one redshirt season), Peagler felt that staying was the right move for him despite what the transfer portal has become.

Peagler said the biggest reason he stayed was the ‘brotherhood’.

“I’ve had so many good memories here,” Peagler said. He also said the belief in him from coach Brandon Jones and the other coaches.

After getting his opportunity with the first team, Peagler is less focused about the competition, and more focused on bettering himself as a player.

“I just continue to be myself and work on myself,” Peagler said. “I’ll just look at it as stacking days.”

If Peagler gets his opportunity with the first five during Week 1, it’ll likely be due to Green moving to left tackle, Giudice moving to left guard and Peagler slotting in at right tackle.

Johnny Williams IV

Williams is the third of four transfers coming in this season and he joins Mizzou after playing in 18 games with two starts at tackle for West Virginia. In his time with the Mountaineers, he logged 344 career snaps, helped produce multiple 200-yard rushing performances in 2024 and appeared in two bowl games.

On Dec. 28, 2024, Williams announced his transfer to Mizzou as the team continued to retool after losing key pieces to the line.

Early in camp, Williams was seen as the expected starting left tackle, next to Green at left guard. During Monday’s practice, the Macon, Georgia native was taking reps with the second team. He was seen taking reps at right tackle with Jayven Richardson slotting in at left tackle.

It seems that the former Mountaineer has some work to do before he climbs back up into the 1 spot, but assuming Drinkwitz wants to keep Green in his natural position; the left tackle spot is Williams’ position to win.

Jayven Richardson

Richardson returns to Columbia as a redshirt junior with six career appearances during his time at Mizzou. The Baton Rogue, Louisiana native transferred to Mizzou from Hutchinson Community College prior to last season.

During Week 2 of camp, Richardson was taking a lot of the snaps at left tackle. Many thought he had the position locked up but on Saturday, Drinkwitz made it clear that he didn’t have the position won.

“No. We’re going to make a change next week and see,” the coach said to media following the scrimmage. “We’re going to make some adjustments next week and see if we can’t find — you know, goal is to get the best five.”

As expected, Richardson took second team reps during Monday. I’d guess this is less a hit on Richardson and more of a test from Drinkwitz seeing how players mesh together.

Either way, if Richardson surges his way into the starting five, he’ll likely play left tackle alongside Green at left guard.

Here’s my Week 1 starting five offensive lineman prediction:

LT: Johnny Williams IV
LG: Cayden Green
C: Connor Tollison
RG: Dominick Giudice
RT: Keagan Trost