Mizzou football cornerback Christian Holmes will transfer
Missouri Tigers cornerback Christian Holmes is in the transfer portal, a team spokesperson confirmed.
Holmes is the first player to announce transfer plans since Mizzou coach Eliah Drinkwitz was hired to replace Barry Odom. The redshirt junior cornerback recorded 29 tackles, 2 1/2 tackles for loss and four pass break-ups in 2019.
If Holmes plans to graduate transfer, he has one year of eligibility remaining and would be immediately available to play.
Holmes was expected to be in the running for a starting cornerback spot after senior and captain DeMarkus Acy exhausted his eligibility. Mizzou returns starter Jarvis Ware, along with Adam Sparks, who saw extended playing time when injuries forced him into action.
Holmes took a step forward in 2018, starting the final eight games. He had two interceptions, 12 pass break-ups and 36 tackles as a redshirt sophomore. But Holmes struggled with penalties at times in 2019.
For Mizzou, the next step is spring football, where the Drinkwitz era begins. Drinkwitz finalized his coaching staff recently with positional assignments. The annual spring game is scheduled for April 11.