Standout DB Toriano Pride announced he will transfer to Mizzou on Wednesday. (Photo: AP)

Terrance Williams
Staff Writer

The University of Missouri football program landed its first big commitment from the transfer portal on Wednesday, when former Clemson player and native St. Louisan, Toriano Pride announced his plans to transfer to Mizzou.

Pride, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound defensive back, was heavily recruited by Missouri in the 2022 recruiting class, before he chose Clemson coming out of high school.

He played his high school ball at both Lutheran North and East St. Louis (Ill.), and was rated a four-star talent and a Top 100 recruit, according to high school rating services Rivals.com and 24/7 Sports. Along with Mizzou, Pride had offers from schools all over the country, including Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Illinois, LSU, Ohio State, Oregon, and USC.

Pride played two seasons at Clemson and appeared in 26 games, while making three starts. He recorded 37 tackles in that span, including two for a loss, with nine pass break-ups, one quarterback sack, and one interception.

In 2021, Pride was the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s All-Metro Defensive Player of the Year, after playing on the same East St. Louis team as current Mizzou star wide receiver Luther Burden III.

Pride announced his decision on “X,” the platform formerly known as Twitter, with a edited photo of him wearing a Mizzou uniform that has fans of the team already excited to see him in Black & Gold next season.

The NCAA transfer portal opened Monday, and began a 30-day period for players to leave their current programs and transfer to another.

Landing Pride figures to be a huge get for Mizzou’s defense, which is expected to lose current standout cornerbacks Kris Abrams-Draine and Ennis Rakestraw to the NFL Draft following the season.

The No. 9-ranked Tigers will conclude its 2023 season when it plays in the 88th Annual Cotton Bowl Classic on December 29, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, against No. 7-ranked Ohio State.

2023 Missouri Tigers Football Schedule

DateTimeAtOpponentLocationTVResult
August 31, 2023 (Thursday)7 PMHomeSouth DakotaFaurot FieldSEC NetworkW, 35-10
September 9, 2023 (Saturday)6 PMHomeMiddle TennesseeFaurot FieldSECN+ / ESPN+W, 23-19
September 16, 2023 (Saturday)11 AMHome#15 Kansas StateFaurot FieldSEC NetworkW, 30-27
September 23, 2023 (Saturday)6 PMNeutralMemphisSt. Louis, Mo. / The Dome at America’s CenterW, 34-27
September 30, 2023 (Saturday)3 PMAwayVanderbiltNashville, Tenn.W, 38-21
October 7, 2023 (Saturday)11 AMHomeLSUFaurot FieldL, 49-39
October 14, 2023 (Saturday)6:30 PMAway#19 KentuckyLexington, Ky.W, 38-21
October 21, 2023 (Saturday)2:30 PMHomeSouth CarolinaFaurot FieldW, 34-12
November 4, 2023 (Saturday)2:30 PMAway#1 GeorgiaAthens, Ga.L, 30-21
November 11, 2023 (Saturday)2:30 PMHome#14 TennesseeFaurot FieldW, 36-7
November 18, 2023 (Saturday)6:30 PMHomeFloridaFaurot FieldW, 33-31
November 24, 2023 (Friday)3 PMAwayArkansasFayetteville, Ark.CBSW, 48-14
December 29, 2023 (Friday)7 PMNeutral#7 Ohio StateArlington, Texas / AT&T Stadium