BREAKING: Four-Star Safety Jayden McGregory Flips Commitment to Missouri Tigers
**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 on Wednesday, 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.
“This is a significant addition for our secondary,” head coach Eli Drinkwitz said in a statement. “Jayden is exactly the type of versatile, athletic defender we want in our program. His ability to play multiple positions in the defensive backfield gives us tremendous flexibility.”
According to 247Sports, McGregory ranks as the sixth-highest rated recruit in Missouri’s 2026 class with a composite rating of 0.8967, placing him firmly as a four-star prospect . He held 17 total offers, including notable interest from Arkansas, Minnesota, and Florida State .
McGregory brings impressive two-way versatility to the Tigers’ secondary. He plays both sides of the ball for Valley High School, demonstrating exceptional ball-hawking skills in the defensive backfield. Scouts praise his ability to track down passes and his focus on breaking up plays rather than simply attempting interceptions . On offense, he displays agility, quickness, and a solid vertical that makes him a threat in space.
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 .
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 .
Missouri officially signed 19 players during the early signing period in December, with 15 of those already enrolled and participating in offseason workouts . The Tigers added four more during February’s National Signing Day, bringing the total class size to 23 players, including 22 high school student-athletes and one junior college recruit .
Head coach Eli Drinkwitz has made flipping prospects a key component of his recruiting strategy. The Tigers have secured multiple flip commitments throughout this cycle, including three-star safety Carter Stewart from Utah and three-star cornerback Brody Jones from Cincinnati in October . More recently, Missouri added three-star defensive lineman Jocques Felix after flipping him from Iowa State during February’s signing period .
With the February signing period now complete, Missouri’s 2026 recruiting class ranks No. 31 nationally according to 247Sports, marking the fifth time under Drinkwitz that the Tigers have assembled a top-35 class . The class features 14 players ranked in the top 20 in their respective states, with two players ranked nationally in the top 100 by at least one recruiting service .
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 .
