Former MU special teams coordinator Link heading to New Mexico

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 additionally 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 was set to expire on Jan. 31 and 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 moving forward. 

Special teams has increasingly been a point of struggle for Missouri over the last few years. The start of the 2025 season got off to an unfavorable start with the torn ACL of starting kicker Blake Craig in Week 1, which left true freshman Robert Meyer and sophomore Oliver Robbins to fill in going forward, but it was not the only issue that arose.

Mizzou ranked last in the Southeastern Conference in punt yards per game last season, 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-five 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.

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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 eights games last season and recorded four tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and three pressures, primarily at the defensive tackle position. 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 at the position. 

This move comes just over a week before Miami will take on Indiana in the College Football Playoff National Championship game at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 19.