After transferring to the Missouri Tigers this past offseason, Toriano Pride has already made his presence felt on the field. This confident, swaggy defensive back is poised for a breakout season following his two years at Clemson.
Pride plays with the confidence essential for a standout cornerback. He’s quick on his feet with excellent vision, which he showcased by jumping an out-route and returning the interception for a pick-six against Murray State. The play was impressive and set the tone for Missouri’s defense in their 51-0 season-opening demolition of the Racers.
Coming out of East St. Louis, Pride was highly regarded as one of the top players in his class, ranked 10th at his position and 70th overall. Initially, he chose Clemson over offers from Missouri, Ohio State, and Oregon. However, when things didn’t quite click at Clemson, Pride decided to come home to Columbia, Missouri, ahead of his junior season.
As a true freshman at Clemson, the 5-foot-11 defensive back made 14 appearances, including two starts. Pride ended the season with 23 tackles, four pass deflections, a sack, and an interception. After a sophomore campaign in 2023, where he tallied just 14 tackles, Pride found a change of scenery, with his talent already showcased.
