Preseason Accolades for the Tigers
Phil Steele’s annual preseason All‑SEC teams have been released, and the University of Missouri is well‑represented, with four of its athletes earning spots on the first, second or third teams.
Ahmad Hardy and Cayden Green stand out as the only Tigers named to the preseason All‑American list, a distinction that underscores their status among the conference’s elite.
Hardy’s preparation for the 2026 season is clouded by a gunshot wound sustained in May, leaving his availability in doubt, while Green is being touted as a potential Day 1 or Day 2 selection in the 2027 NFL Draft.
Veteran receiver Brett Norfleet earned a third‑team nod after amassing 75 catches over three collegiate seasons, and interior lineman Dominick Giudice is slated to inherit the starting center role for the upcoming campaign.
Missouri will open its schedule on September 3 against Arkansas‑Pine Bluff, a non‑conference matchup that will serve as the first test of the new‑look roster.