Former Rock Bridge star running back Nathaniel Peat among Mizzou football transfer additions
Nathaniel Peat is coming back to play college football in his hometown.
The Columbia native and former Rock Bridge star is transferring to Missouri after three years at Stanford, the Tigers announced Tuesday as part of a slew of transfer additions.
Peat will have two seasons of NCAA eligibility remaining.
The former Bruins star had a former Rock Bridge teammate vying for his return, as Missouri safety Martez Manuel took to social media to urge the Tigers to pursue Peat.
"Bring my brother HOME!" Manuel tweeted Jan. 10, after Peat entered the portal.
Peat led the Cardinal in rushing yards as a junior in 2021, as he carried the ball 79 times for 404 yards and three touchdowns. Peat averaged 5.1 yards per carry.
During his first two seasons at Stanford, Peat combined for 38 carries for 261 yards and a touchdown. He averaged 6.8 yards per rush attempt as a freshman and sophomore.
Peat has also displayed his skill set as a return specialist, which will pair nicely with Missouri kickoff return man Kris Abrams-Draine. Peat recorded 663 kick return yards at Stanford this past season while averaging 25 yards per kick return.
Abrams-Draine returned a kickoff for a touchdown this past season while averaging 22.4 yards per kick return.
When he entered the transfer portal, Peat almost immediately got offers from Iowa, Missouri, Oregon State, Purdue, Washington State, Oklahoma State and Western Kentucky.
Coming out of Rock Bridge, Peat held nine offers as a three-star prospect. He chose Stanford over Missouri, Purdue, Northwestern, Minnesota, Iowa and Iowa State.
Peat's addition helps solidify Missouri's running back position after All-American Tyler Badie's departure this offseason. Peat will join Elijah Young, Michael Cox and fellow Rock Bridge alum Bryce Jackson in the Tigers' backfield.
MU also has four-star freshman Tavorus Jones incoming, as well as Truman State transfer Cody Schrader, to round out the running back room.
Peat was the first of eight transfer additions the Tigers announced Tuesday.
Missouri added experienced defensive players in defensive back Dreyden Norwood, linebacker Tyrone Hopper, defensive lineman Jayden Jernigan and safety Joseph Charleston. That solidifies depth in the first two levels of the defense, while also adding two experienced players to the secondary.
Missouri addressed its offense by announcing Schrader's transfer as well as bolstering its offensive line with two additions: Buffalo transfer Bence Polgar and Dylan Spencer, who rejoins Missouri after spending last season at Jackson State.
Chris Kwiecinski is the sports editor for the Columbia Daily Tribune, overseeing University of Missouri and Boone County sports coverage. Follow him on Twitter @OchoK_ and contact him at CKwiecinsk@gannett.com or 435-414-3261.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Stanford's Nathaniel Peat headlines Mizzou football transfer class
