Mizzou Football Loses Another Promising Defensive Recruit to SEC Opponent

Mizzou Football Loses Another Promising Defensive Recruit to SEC Opponent originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

The Missouri Tigers have lost their fourth potential recruit of the week, shortening their list of defensive options for the 2026 class, as three-star safety Jowell Combay has committed to Tennessee.

This also marks the second recruit this week to join the Vols instead of Mizzou after Javonte Smith committed to the SEC foe on Tuesday. 

BREAKING: Class of 2026 Safety Jowell Combay has Committed to Tennessee, he tells me for @rivals

The 6’2 195 S from Marietta, GA chose the Vols over South Carolina, Georgia, & Wisconsin

“I’m just getting started🍊#AGTG”https://t.co/vKVm0atwAGpic.twitter.com/RByPf2k0nI

— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) July 9, 2025

Combay is the No. 608 player in the country according to On3 Industry Rankings, as well as No. 54 at safety and No. 66 in the state of Georgia.

In the final stages leading up to his commitment, Combay was considering the Volunteers, Tigers, Wisconsin and South Carolina, while also holding offers from Oklahoma State, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Ole Miss and more.

Combay is the teammate of three-star Missouri commit Tony Forney Jr., as both prospects attend Kell High School in Marietta, Georgia. The two of them took multiple visits together, including to Mizzou, but Combay ultimately elected not to follow his teammate. 

Alongside Forney, Combay helped Kell reach the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs in Georgia where they fell to eventual state semifinalist Creekside 42-35 on Nov. 22.

With Combay now no longer an option for coach Eli Drinkwitz, it's difficult to guess who the Tigers will pivot towards as their next option. Three-star JUCO defensive end Demarcus Johnson took an official visit to Columbia, but he has yet to announce a decision or a commitment date. Johnson seems to be the last available option, along with four-star athlete Jacob Eberhart.

Related: CFB Analyst Ranks Mizzou Among Schools Likely to Make 1st CFB Playoff

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.