Former Mizzou special teams coordinator Erik Link heading to New Mexico
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- Erik Link leaves Missouri to become New Mexico's special teams coach.
- Missouri struggled in 2025 special teams, with punting and kicking woes.
- New Mexico lost coordinator Da Prato to Minnesota, then hired Link to rebuild unit.
Former Missouri special teams coordinator Erik Link is headed to New Mexico to tutor the Lobos' special-teams unit, per a report from The Athletic's Bruce Feldman on Sunday.
Link had been the special teams coordinator at Mizzou since 2020, following coach Eli Drinkwitz in his move from Appalachian State. The two also spent time together on Auburn's coaching staff under coach Gene Chizik in 2010.
Link also took on responsibility of coaching the tight ends in 2022 and 2023.
The timeline was nearing its end for Missouri and Link to agree to a contract extension. Link's deal, set to expire Jan. 31, had not been renewed.
Mizzou hired former Florida State special teams and linebackers coach John Papuchis to an undisclosed assistant coaching position Dec. 31. With the departure of Link, it's expected that Papuchis will take over as special teams coordinator.
Special teams has increasingly been a point of struggle for Missouri over the last few years. The 2025 season got off to an unfavorable start with kicker Blake Craig tearing his ACL in Week 1, which left true freshman Robert Meyer and sophomore Oliver Robbins to fill in.
That was not the only issue that arose.
Mizzou ranked last in the Southeastern Conference in punt yards per game, as starting punter Connor Weselman only mustered an average of 41.8 yards per punt. The successful fake punt by Texas A&M on fourth-and-3 that resulted in a 48-yard gain for safety Dalton Brooks was a lowlight, but other punt coverage gaffes and blocked field-goal attempts often proved costly.
Daniel Da Prato previously held the title of special teams coordinator at New Mexico. Despite it only being for one season, he coached the unit to a top-5 finish nationally in kickoff returns in 2025. Kicker Luke Drzewiecki made 18 of 19 field goals and all 36 extra point attempts in his senior campaign.
Da Prato took the same position at Minnesota in the offseason, forcing New Mexico to pivot elsewhere and hire Link.
Tigers add to the defensive line
Mizzou picked up a commitment from former Miami defensive lineman Donta Simpson on Sunday, per his social media. He joined the Hurricanes as a 3-star recruit out of Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School in Hollywood, Florida, back in 2024.
Simpson appeared in eight games last season and recorded four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and three pressures, primarily at defensive tackle. He will have three years of eligibility remaining at Missouri.
Listed at 6-foot-3, 300 pounds, Simpson is the first addition that Mizzou has made at defensive tackle in the transfer portal. The group is depleted with Chris McClellan, Sterling Webb and Bralen Henderson out the door, but Simpson could immediately be a contributor.
This move comes just over a week before Miami takes on Indiana in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 19.
Copyright 2026 Columbia Missourian
This story was originally published January 12, 2026 at 10:32 AM with the headline "Former Mizzou special teams coordinator Erik Link heading to New Mexico."