The announcement marks Mizzou's third straight year with a Fourth of July commitment.
Mizzou Picks Up Commitment From Safety Tony Forney Jr. out of Georgia originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
For the third straight year, the Missouri Tigers have celebrated the Fourth of July with a commitment. This year, three-star defensive back Tony Forney Jr. pledged to the Tigers on Friday, choosing Mizzou over Auburn, Georgia, Pittsburgh and Wisconsin.
The 5-foot-11, 180-pound safety is ranked No. 347 nationally, No. 67 positionally and No. 85 in Georgia, according to the 247Sports Composite Ranking. Forney announced his decision during an Instagram livestream.
#Mizzou has picked up a verbal commitment from Tony Forney, a three-star safety out of Marietta, Georgia, who just committed on Instagram live.
— Eli Hoff (@byEliHoff) July 4, 2025
He’s the 10th player (second defensive) in Missouri’s 2026 recruiting class. pic.twitter.com/9WY9I4Ernw
Forney took an official visit to Mizzou on May 30, and he also made official visits to Auburn, Wisconsin and Pittsburgh in June. He also held offers from several other power conference schools, including Texas A&M, LSU and Clemson.
Forney is the 10th commitment to the Tigers' Class of 2026, and he's the seventh since June 1. Forney is also the second Georgia commit of the 2026 recruiting class after three-star offensive lineman Brandon Anderson committed to the Tigers last Sunday.
Forney attends Kell High School in Marietta, Georgia, where he had a pair of interceptions last season (tied for the most on the Longhorns team), even returning one for a touchdown.
Forney helped the Georgia team reach the second round of the Class 4A state playoffs where they fell to eventual state semifinalist Creekside 42-35 on Nov. 22.
Forney continues a three-year tradition of recruits committing to Mizzou on Independence Day. In 2023, wide receiver James Madison II and defensive back Cameron Keys committed to the Tigers, and last year, wide receiver Jayvan Boggs pledged to Mizzou. Boggs eventually ended up at Florida State, though, after decommitting from both Mizzou and UCF.
Related: Mizzou Football's Top 25 Games Since 2000: No. 15-11
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
