The Tigers got the ball rolling Friday.

Gavin Hoffman, a redshirt freshman tight end, announced via his X account Friday morning that he is transferring to Missouri football from Iowa. He is Mizzou’s first portal pickup of the spring window, which opened Wednesday and remains open for new entries through April 25.

The tight end is a Leawood, Kansas, product who was a four-star prospect out of Blue Valley Northwest High and the No. 1 recruit in the state of Kansas in the Class of 2024. Missouri was involved in his original high school recruitment.

Hoffman, who is listed at 6 foot 5, 237 pounds, did not make an appearance in his rookie year with the Hawkeyes, meaning he will retain four years of eligibility.

He is cousins with former Missouri women’s basketball star and current Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham.

Returning junior Jordon Harris took significant reps last season, and has functioned well as a blocker and developed as a pass-catcher. The Tigers added experienced Colorado State transfer Vince Brown II in the winter portal window, can return Jude James as a redshirt freshman and signed three-star prospect Dakotah Terrell to their Class of 2025. Freshman Whit Hafer has switched positions from tight end to the offensive line over the offseason.

Hoffman isn’t likely to immediately be more than competitive depth, but there is a path to playing time, given the numbers in the room.

So far, seven scholarship players have either signed with a new team or announced their intention to transfer out of Columbia. There have been no unexpected departures — transfers that were likely to feature in the two-deep — to date.

With the addition of Hoffman, Missouri appears to have 80 scholarship players, which means head coach Eli Drinkwitz and company have room to add five more scholarship players and fall within the SEC limits of 85 scholarship players and 20 walk-ons for the 2025 season. That number will change with every addition and departure.

Mizzou is still expected to be active chasing a defensive tackle, wide receiver and offensive lineman, likely at left tackle.