SMU Offensive Tackle Marcus Bryant commits to Missouri Tigers

Former SMU offensive tackle Marcus Bryant recently entered the transfer portal searching for a new home across the college football landscape. After a few months, he finally settled on a new decision, committing to the Missouri Tigers, per On3’s Hayes Fawcett. He was one of the more talented offensive linemen in the AAC, earning first team All-AAC honors this year.

He chose Missouri over his other finalists in the portal, the TCU Horned Frogs and the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

Bryant did an exceptional job of blocking for Preston Stone, one of the most gifted signal-callers in the AAC. In 2023, Stone completed 59.9% of his passes for 3,197 yards, while tossing in 28 touchdowns with six interceptions.

As a junior in 2022, Bryant played in all 13 games, making 12 starts for the Mustangs. He helped propel the SMU offensive attack to seventh in the nation in passing offense (316.7 yards per game), red zone offense, seventh in red zone offense (91.9%), 10th in third down conversion rate (47.8%), and 15th in total offense (472.8 yards per game).

As a sophomore in 2021, Bryant saw time in 10 games, starting in six of those. He helped the SMU offensive attack to rank as one of the better units in the country: ranking ninth in scoring offense (38.4 points per game), 13th in passing offense (465.9 yards per game), 14th in passing offense (304.5 yards per game), 17th in sacks allowed (1.33 sacks per game). Following the season, he made PFF’s All-AAC third team.

As a freshman in 2020, he played in six games, starting one of those. He helped guide the Mustangs’ offense to rank ninth in the country in red zone offense (92%), 13th in passing offense (318.0 yards per game), and 15th in the nation in scoring offense (38.6 points per game).

As a high school prospect from Cedar Ridge (Round Rock, Texas), Bryant was rated as a three-star and ranked as the No. 1668 overall prospect in the country, according to the On3 Industry Rankings in the 2020 cycle.

SMU finished with an impressive record last year, finishing 11-3 overall and 8-0 in the AAC. They lost their bowl game, the Wasabi Fenway Bowl 23-14 to the Boston College Eagles.

The Missouri Tigers had one of the most successful seasons in school history last year, finishing 11-2 overall and 6-2 in the SEC. They defeated Ohio State in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl 14-3. Ralph Russo has already pegged the Tigers as a candidate for regression in the 2024 campaign.