BREAKING: Missouri Tigers Flip Four-Star Safety Jayden McGregory from Louisville
**COLUMBIA, Mo.** – The Missouri Tigers have added another key piece to their rapidly improving 2026 recruiting class, as four-star safety **Jayden McGregory** announced his commitment to Mizzou, flipping his pledge from the Louisville Cardinals .
McGregory, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound defensive back from Valley High School in Des Moines, Iowa, becomes the 22nd commit in Missouri’s 2026 recruiting class . The talented prospect had been committed to Louisville since July but decided to bring his talents to Columbia after renewed interest from the Tigers’ coaching staff .
According to 247Sports’ composite rankings, McGregory is a four-star talent, checking in as the No. 384 overall player in the 2026 class and the No. 4 prospect in the state of Iowa . He’s the kind of rangy, physical safety that fits the mold of what Missouri’s been targeting—someone who can cover ground, deliver hits, and make plays in space .
**Recruiting Momentum**
This flip represents another strong addition to a Missouri secondary that has been a clear priority in the 2026 cycle. McGregory joins fellow defensive backs Ahmod Billins, Tony Forney, Brody Jones and Carter Stewart as the fifth defensive back in the recruiting class .
McGregory becomes the 11th player to join Missouri’s 2026 class since late September, and here’s the key stat: **eight of those 11 were previously committed elsewhere** . That’s not a coincidence. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz and his staff have made flipping top talent a priority, and they’re executing that strategy with precision . Whether it’s identifying players who may be second-guessing their original commitments or simply out-recruiting other programs down the stretch, Mizzou’s been aggressive—and effective .
The Tigers’ 2026 recruiting class has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent months. After being ranked outside the top 80 in 247Sports’ team rankings earlier in the cycle, Missouri has surged into the **top 30 nationally** with the addition of McGregory and other recent commitments . According to 247Sports, the class now ranks No. 23 nationally and No. 11 in the SEC .
**Get to Know Jayden McGregory**
McGregory plays on both sides of the ball and similar to most of the Mizzou commits, he’s lights out. He shows the ability to hawk down passes and focuses more on breaking them up than catching . On offense, he’s agile, quick and gets open, also possessing a solid vertical . He held 17 total offers, including notable interest from Arkansas, Minnesota, and Florida State .
For McGregory, the opportunity to compete in the SEC and contribute to a rising Missouri program proved too attractive to pass up. His versatility and playmaking ability should serve him well as he transitions to college football in Columbia, where he joins a program coming off back-to-back 11-win seasons and sustained national relevance.
