It is no secret that last season the offense of the Missouri Tigers was abysmal. The season started great, scoring 40-plus points with great running and passing offense. Once they started playing high-ranked rivals, that’s when the offense got exposed and scoring dried up.

Despite the struggles from the passings offense is safe to say the Tight End group overall maintain their identity, helping the ground game produce at least 100 rushing yards in every game with the exception of the Auburn and Oklahoma games, hostile SEC environments. While Norfleet added great production with key touchdowns.

TE 1 – Brett Norfleet, SR

Was Norfleet actually good? Before looking at any stats my answer would have been he started strong and when facing strong opponents, he slowed down. The numbers mostly back that up: the two biggest games where against Kansas and Massachusetts considered to be lower tiered rivals with 7 and 6 receptions.

In general, I think he was heavily underutilized and could have offered more to the passing game. He showed high level gameplay against Alabama by catching the opening touchdown to start the game.

This season under a new quarterback and new offensive coordinator I think the tigers have an opportunity to utilize more often on the passing game. I can see Chip Lindsey building a package where he lines up in the I or slides into the slot for Simmons. And with this being his final year, he will be looking to build tape for the 2027 NFL draft.

TE 2 – Jordon Harris, SR

He was utilized more as a blocking tight end last season; he was part of the reason of the success of the rushing attack for the Tigers. Keeping Harris in line let the Tigers run 12 personnel without giving up on running and it allowed Norfleet to work on the seam. Throughout the season his catches where very scattered, only 4 catches for 48 yards but receiving was never his job.

I imagine this season his role is not going to change. He will be primarily used as a blocking tight end specially when Lindsey runs 12 personnel. Aside from that I can occasionally see a few trick plays where he breaks out into a catch.

TE 3 – Jude James, RS SO

Local talent from Francis Howell in Saint Charles Missouri. With 27 receptions and 575 yards and 99 tackles he was part of the 2022 undefeated season of the Francis Howel Vikings that lead to the state title. Recruited without a true position, he was put at tight end and redshirted in 2024 after two games. Last season, he showed flashes of his pass catching ability with key plays as a 40 yard touchdown against Central Arkansas and aa game tying fourth-down grab against Vandy.

This season he is expected to be part of the rotation, projected to be tight end 3 behind seniors Norfleet and Harris. With Harris focused on run blocking, James will be the second-best pass catcher in the room. And with Harris and Norfleet graduating, this is his and Gavin Hoffman’s audition to be TE1 in 2027.

TE 4 – Gavin Hoffman, RS SO/TR

Hoffman former player of “Tight End U” University of Iowa transferred to Mizzou in the Spring 2025 portal window. Last season he came into a crowded tight end room with Harris and Norfleet and only saw a whopping 16 offensive snap where 15 of those plays where running plays. Which is odd since he is considered more of a pass catching tight end.

For this season, new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey is pushing to involve the tight ends on the vertical passing game. Next to James, Hoffman has a higher ceiling as a pass catcher but will be limited to personnel packages and game flow rather than a defined role since, he’d likely will not be the tight end used for running blocking plays.