Missouri continues to mine local talent, and the Tigers may be quietly building something special just east of Columbia.
On Saturday night, Mizzou picked up a commitment from Lee’s Summit High School running back Preston Hatfield, adding another late riser to its 2026 recruiting class. It also marks yet another Tiger-to-Tiger connection — and raises the question: is a Lee’s Summit–to–Mizzou pipeline starting to take shape?
It’s far too early to say for sure, but the early signs are hard to ignore.
Hatfield becomes the latest LSHS product to choose Missouri, following teammate Karsten Fiene, who pledged his commitment on Sunday. Together, they represent back-to-back local additions and further bolster a 2026 class that’s beginning to take form after December’s National Signing Day. Hatfield is also the fourth local prospect to commit to the Tigers since then, reinforcing Mizzou’s emphasis on keeping in-state talent at home.
Get to Know: Preston Hatfield
- Hometown: Lee’s Summit, MO
- High School: Lee’s Summit High School
- Position: Running Back
- Height/Weight: 5’9”, 170 lbs
- 247Sports Composite: N/A
- On3 Ranking: N/A
- Reported Offers: 2
- Notable Offer: Missouri Western State
What immediately jumps off the film with Hatfield is his speed — game-breaking, blink-and-you-miss-it speed that looks almost unfair at the high school level. That quickness, paired with impressive lateral agility, made him a chess piece for Lee’s Summit’s coaching staff. Hatfield lined up all over the field, seeing snaps at five or six different positions, from wildcat quarterback to a speedy slot defender.
At 5’9” and 170 pounds, Hatfield is undersized by SEC standards, and there’s no hiding that reality. He’ll need time in Mizzou’s strength and conditioning program before he’s physically ready to handle college football’s grind. But raw measurables aren’t everything.
With roster flexibility and developmental spots available, taking a chance on a local athlete with legitimate game-day speed makes plenty of sense. Hatfield may be a long-term project — but projects with this kind of explosiveness are always worth betting on.
And if he’s not the last Lee’s Summit Tiger to end up in Columbia, don’t say Mizzou didn’t see it coming.
